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

Things began to fall apart last week when U.S.

From Slate • Jun. 4, 2026

But held under a magnifying glass and removed from the film’s fervent fanfare, those arguments fall apart.

From Salon • Jun. 4, 2026

Different stocks may suddenly start to lead, causing the performance of the momentum factor to fall apart, she noted.

From MarketWatch • May 30, 2026

A deal could be announced as soon as Thursday, the people said, assuming talks don’t fall apart.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 20, 2026

If you try to separate them from the soil they just fall apart.

From "The Omnivore's Dilemma" by Michael Pollan

Related Words

• break down
• collapse
• crumble