lapse into sth phr v [T] 1 to become silent or asleep, or start to be in a particular state or condition 陷入［进入］…状态: They lapsed into silence. 他们陷入了沉默。 2 to start behaving or speaking in a different way 〔以不同的方式〕开始做［说］: Without thinking he lapsed into French. 他想都没想就说起了法语。