breaking open

Verb

break open (third-person singular simple present breaks open, present participle breaking open, simple past broke open, past participle broken open)

1. (idiomatic) To make a breakthrough on a mystery or problem; to cause a breakthrough to be made.
   • I think I broke this case open.

   Synonyms:

   force

2. (ambitransitive) Used other than figuratively or idiomatically: see break, open.
   • Lacking a corkscrew, he broke the bottle open.