fall apart

British  

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

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fall apart Idioms  

1. 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.

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Example Sentences

Maybe as the city seems to fall apart, she’ll find a leafy park or the back of a dingy bar that’s the right home for these strange, lonely yet hopeful songs.

From Los Angeles Times • May 8, 2026

BuzzFeed went public in 2021 through a merger with a special-purpose acquisition company, and things started to fall apart.

From MarketWatch • May 8, 2026

The deal, which is through Murdoch’s Lupa Systems investment company, isn’t yet final, and could still fall apart, they said.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 5, 2026

Fears that the ceasefire, which has been in place since early April, could fall apart weighed on Asian equities, with Hong Kong, Sydney, Singapore, Wellington and Taipei all down.

From Barron's • May 5, 2026

I lifted the picture gently from the mantel, afraid that it might fall apart with a mere touch of my hands.

From "Shelter (Book One): A Mickey Bolitar Novel" by Harlan Coben

Related Words

• break down
• collapse
• crumble