fall apart

/fɔːl əˈpɑːrt/

phrasal verb★Intermediate◆phrasal verb

◆ What It Really Means

To experience a sudden or dramatic collapse, either physically or emotionally.

¶ Literal Meaning

To physically break into separate pieces.

Literal Breakdown

fallto descend or collapse+apartseparated into pieces

◇ Mental Image

The mental image of something breaking into pieces, symbolizing failure or disintegration.

◈ When to Use

A person might say, 'My plans fell apart when the project was canceled,' meaning their plans collapsed unexpectedly.

◉ Cultural Note

The phrase is widely used in English to describe both literal and metaphorical breakdowns, often emphasizing suddenness or inevitability.

informal

To break down physically or emotionally; to disintegrate or lose cohesion.

After years of neglect, the old building began to fall apart.

The relationship fell apart when they realized they had nothing in common.

💡

Often used to describe physical structures, relationships, or emotional states.

Collocations

fall apart at the seamsTo be on the verge of collapse or failure.

fall to piecesidiom

To collapse completely, either physically or emotionally.

Use 'fall apart' for both literal and figurative breakdowns, but ensure the context makes the meaning clear.

While useful, overusing 'fall apart' can make your language sound repetitive. Vary your vocabulary.

From the combination of 'fall' (to descend or collapse) and 'apart' (separated into pieces).

Commonly used to describe both physical and metaphorical disintegration.

fall

to descend or collapse

verb

apart

separated into pieces

adverb

English Dictionary