to come apart at the seams

Examples

• All

• Our "intelligence services" are coming apart at the seams, once again.

  Blog text (1)

• The question remains just how much abuse the country can take without coming apart at the seams.

  Blog text (6)

• Your little project came apart at the seams.

  Welcome to the Punch (2013)

• Society is coming apart at the seams, okay?

  Other Voices (2000)

• It's beginning to come apart at the seams already.

  Double Indemnity (1944)

• Well, 5 days later, my whole life came apart at the seams.

  Blog text (34)

• The old British Empire is beginning to come apart at the seams...

  Blood Freak (1972)

• America's social fabric was starting to come apart at the seams.

  Fiction book (1996)

• But without a doubt, society is starting to come apart at the seams, and I do expect rioting and major civil unrest in our major cities at some point in the future.

  Blog text (9)

• Mr. Garrison is coming apart at the seams over the disappearance of his puppet sidekick, Mr. Hat.

  Blog text (31)

Synonyms

C

to collapse

vsto come apart at the seams

579 3.9

To fall down suddenly, for example when a person faints or a building breaks

is more about failure that begins after a stable period rather than sudden falling down

B

to break down

vsto come apart at the seams

194 3.2

To stop working because of a problem

is a failure that starts after a stable period rather than a regular malfunction

C

to crumble

vsto come apart at the seams

177 3.4

To break into small pieces or become weaker and collapse

is about beginning to fail after a stable period rather than slow weakening

F

to fall apart

vsto come apart at the seams

155 2.8

To break into pieces or stop working properly

refers to a collapse that starts after a stable period rather than ordinary breaking

B

to break up

vsto come apart at the seams

66 2.7

Separate something into smaller pieces

is used for failure that starts after stability rather than intentional division

C

to come apart

vsto come apart at the seams

44 3.1

To break into pieces or fall into separate parts

is a failure that begins after stability rather than simple separation of parts

F

to fragment

vsto come apart at the seams

39 3.7

To break into small pieces or make something break apart

describes a broader failure that begins after stability rather than mere piece splitting

I

to implode

vsto come apart at the seams

35 6.7

Collapse inward suddenly because of strong outside pressure

is about failure that begins after a stable period rather than inward violent collapse

D

to disintegrate

vsto come apart at the seams

35 5.8

Fall apart into smaller pieces or stop working together

is a breakdown that begins after a stable period rather than physical fragmentation

B

to break apart

vsto come apart at the seams

26 3.0

To separate into pieces, for example a machine or a group

describes a general separation rather than a collapse after a stable period

C

to come undone

vsto come apart at the seams

• Informal

9 5.3

To begin to fail, fall apart, or lose control

is a failure that begins after a stable period rather than sudden emotional loss

F

to fall apart like a house of cards

vsto come apart at the seams

• Informal

6.5

Suddenly fail completely because it is weak or badly built

is about failure that starts after stability rather than collapse from weak design

Antonyms

H

to hold together

90 3.4

Keep parts or people joined and working as one

K

to keep it together

• Informal

27 5.4

To stay calm and control your feelings in a difficult situation

How Broken

to come apart at the seams

• Informal

5 7.2

to collapse

579 3.9

to fall apart

155 2.8

Surface Forms

Morphology

Etymology