Phrase guide

break the fourth wall

verb · 1 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

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1

verb

Meaning 1

To apparently communicate with reality directly, such as when characters of literature comment on the existence of a reader.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: idiomatic

Topics: fiction, literature, media, publishing

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

History

Etymology

break + the + fourth wall

Across languages

Translations

8 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Chinese Mandarin: 打破第四面墻 /打破第四面墙 (dǎpò dìsìmiànqiáng) — direct communication with the viewer or reader
  • Esperanto: rompi la kvaran muron — direct communication with the viewer or reader
  • French: briser le quatrième mur — direct communication with the viewer or reader
  • Georgian: მეოთხე კედლის გარღვევა (meotxe ḳedlis garɣveva) — direct communication with the viewer or reader
  • Georgian: მეოთხე კედლის გატეხვა (meotxe ḳedlis gaṭexva) — direct communication with the viewer or reader
  • Italian: rompere la quarta parete — direct communication with the viewer or reader
  • Portuguese: derrubar a quarta parede — direct communication with the viewer or reader
  • Spanish: romper la cuarta pared — direct communication with the viewer or reader