bursts, burst, bursting
to burst into
phrasal verb
To suddenly start crying
- 1She burst into tears when she heard the news.
- 2He burst into tears after the sad movie.
When someone bursts into tears, it means they start crying suddenly and uncontrollably. It can happen when they are very sad, upset, or overwhelmed with emotions. It's like their tears come out all at once, without warning.
Remember that "burst into tears" is a fixed phrase, so you can't change the preposition "into" to something else. It always has to be "burst into tears," not "burst in tears" or "burst to tears."
at the meat counter
Unexpected Emotions
Paul
I was just picking up some steaks when I saw her burst into tears.
Nancy
Oh no, what happened?
Paul
She said the prices reminded her of her late husband who loved cooking.
Nancy
That's so touching, I hope she's okay.
at a place with flowers
Emotional Blooms
Ashley
I was just picking out some roses when I saw her burst into tears.
Frank
Oh no, what happened?
Ashley
She said the flowers reminded her of her grandmother.
Frank
That's understandable, flowers can bring back so many memories.
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Similar to "to burst into":
- 1break into tears
- 2start crying
to burst into meanings: