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Meaning & use

butt in

verb·Everydayinformal

Last updated

UK/ˌbʌt ˈɪn/
US/ˌbʌt ˈɪn/

Meanings

  1. verbphrasal verbinformaldisapproving

    To interrupt a conversation rudely by adding your own comments.

    Grammar: No object; often used with on: she butted in on our talk.

    Patterns

    • butt in on something
    • butt in with something

    Sorry to butt in, but dinner is ready.

    He kept butting in while I was explaining the problem.

    Please don't butt in when others are speaking.

  2. verbphrasal verbinformaldisapproving

    To involve yourself in other people's affairs, when nobody wants your help.

    Grammar: No object; often followed by on or into: don't butt in on their plans.

    Patterns

    • butt in on someone
    • butt into something

    My neighbor always butts in on family decisions.

    I don't want to butt in, but I think you should apologize.

    She butted in on their argument and made it worse.

Word forms

third person singularbutts in
past tensebutted in
past participlebutted in
-ing formbutting in

Common combinations

sorry to butt in
Sorry to butt in, but can I ask a question?
butt in on a conversation
He butted in on our conversation.
always butting in
My brother is always butting in.
butt in on a meeting
Nobody wanted her to butt in on the meeting.

Synonyms and how they differ

interrupt
Interrupt is neutral and fits any situation, while butt in is informal and implies rudeness.
cut in
Cut in is about interrupting speech, and it can also mean pulling in front of another car.
chime in
Chime in is friendlier and means to add a comment, often wanted, while butt in is unwelcome.
meddle
Meddle is more formal and stresses interfering in someone's affairs, not conversation.

Opposites

stay out of itlisten

Word family

butt verb
to hit with the head, or push against
butt out phrasal verb
to stop interfering, often used as a command
buttinsky noun
an informal word for someone who interferes

Commonly confused: butt in or butt out?

butt in vs butt out

Butt out means the opposite: to leave a matter alone, and is often used rudely as a command, while butt in means to interfere.

Practice

I don't mean to ___, but I think you left your keys on the table.

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