fall apart

verb

1. to break owing to long use or poor construction

   the chassis is falling apart

2. to become disorganized and ineffective

   since you resigned, the office has fallen apart

Idioms and Phrases

Collapse, break down, either physically or mentally and emotionally. For example, This chair is about to fall apart, or After his wife died, he fell apart. For synonyms for the latter usage, see come apart at the seams; go to pieces.

Example Sentences

Then at the end of the first half, everything fell apart for USC, just like everything always seems to fall apart in big games.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Part of the attack that fell apart on Saturday evening.

Read more on BBC

In Boland's following over, England fell apart in a whir of loose drives.

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It is always possible the plans will fall apart or that Ackman could change course again.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

The U.S., once thought so fragile that it would fall apart, emerged from the war with a sense of strength and unity.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

• break down 
• collapse 
• crumble