to fall apart

Examples

• All

• At this point, she came to see me, stating that "her world was falling apart."

  Academic text (2007)

• From the second you gave me that tape, my life has been falling apart.

  Enemy of the State (1998)

• So now when things fall apart and you ask who am I?

  Mel Robbins

• So we could just watch the world fall apart, I guess.

• The course to which I dedicated my entire life fell apart in front of my eyes.

  Fiction book (1996)

• And this woman is just falling apart inside the pain.

  George Janko

• All I know is my mother is falling apart in front of my eyes...

  Fiction book (1994)

• I was not letting anyone know that my marriage was falling apart, that things were happening.

• But I'm like, OK, even though my relationship has like fallen apart, at least I still have my job.

• Some kids are homeless because their families fell apart after divorce, or a parent lost a job or became ill.

  Academic text (2011)

Synonyms

L

to lose it

vsto fall apart

• Informal

289 7.5

Suddenly stop controlling your feelings and become very angry or upset

is similar but often relates to deeper grief or trauma rather than sudden anger

B

to break down

vsto fall apart

111 3.9

To lose control of your feelings and cry or collapse

focuses mainly on emotional loss from stress, grief, or trauma

B

to break up

vsto fall apart

• Informal

38 5.0

Become unable to cope because of strong stress or emotion

describes loss of control from stress or grief without implying long incapacity

G

to go to pieces

vsto fall apart

9 6.1

Lose control of your feelings because of shock or sadness

is similar but emphasizes stress, grief, or trauma rather than shock alone

C

to come undone

vsto fall apart

• Informal

9 5.3

To begin to fail, fall apart, or lose control

is used mainly for losing emotional or mental control rather than structural failure

C

to come apart at the seams

vsto fall apart

• Informal

5 7.2

To fall apart or stop working properly after being stable

emphasizes emotional collapse from stress rather than structural failure over time

C

to crack up

vsto fall apart

• Informal

4 7.4

To have a nervous breakdown because of too much stress

matches this idea but often highlights grief or trauma specifically

D

to dissolve

vsto fall apart

4 5.3

To suddenly start crying or laughing and lose control

is broader, covering general loss of mental control from stress or trauma

D

to decompensate

vsto fall apart

• Specialized

3 8.9

To lose normal physical or mental ability because of illness

is narrower, focusing on emotional collapse from stress, grief, or trauma

C

to come unhinged

vsto fall apart

• Informal

2 8.2

To lose control of your feelings and act very upset

is similar but centers on stress or grief as the usual cause

L

to lose one's head

vsto fall apart

• Informal

1 6.4

To become very upset and unable to think clearly

focuses more on ongoing emotional collapse caused by trauma or grief

L

to lose one's mind

vsto fall apart

• Informal

1 6.7

Become very anxious, confused, or upset and act in a way that does not make sense

is about losing control emotionally rather than prolonged anxiety or confusion

L

to lose one's shit

vsto fall apart

• Offensive

9.9

To suddenly become very angry or upset in a way you cannot control

conveys similar loss of control but in neutral language suitable for learners

D

to drop one's bundle

vsto fall apart

• UK

9.9

To suddenly lose control of your feelings because you feel overwhelmed

is the general term for losing mental or emotional control from stress

L

to lose the run of oneself

vsto fall apart

• Archaic

9.9

Act in a confused or uncontrolled way because of strong emotion

refers specifically to loss of emotional or mental control from stress

Antonyms

K

to keep one's cool

• Informal

30 3.4

Stay calm and control your feelings when things are hard

How Composed

composed

1 4.3

to hold it together

• Informal

61 5.6

collapse

350 4.1

to fall apart

• Informal

193 4.2

to break down

111 3.9

to crack

145 6.5

Surface Forms

Morphology

Etymology