“Break down” means:
- To Stop Functioning:
- For machines, vehicles, or systems to cease working or fail.
- Example: “The car broke down on the highway.”
- To Analyze or Decompose:
- To divide something into smaller parts to understand it better.
- Example: “We need to break down the project into smaller tasks.”
- To Experience an Emotional Collapse:
- To lose control of emotions, often leading to crying or a breakdown.
- Example: “She broke down in tears after hearing the tragic news.”
- To Fail or Collapse:
- For an arrangement, agreement, or process to fail or fall apart.
- Example: “The peace talks broke down due to irreconcilable differences.”
Prepositions
- Before “break down”: Typically not used with prepositions directly before the phrase. It stands alone or is preceded by the subject.
- After “break down”: Followed by the object or context, such as what is failing, being analyzed, or leading to emotional distress.
- Example: “The machine broke down during the test.”
- Example: “He broke down and confessed his mistakes.”
Collocations
- Break down (into something/components/details)
- Break down (over something/emotionally)
- Break down (a system/vehicle/machine)
- Break down (a process/plan/negotiations)
Example Sentences
- “The printer broke down right before the big presentation.”
- “We need to break down the budget to see where the money is going.”
- “She broke down in the meeting and had to leave early.”
- “The negotiations broke down over disagreements about terms.”
- “The old refrigerator broke down after years of use.”
- “Let’s break down the marketing strategy into actionable steps.”
- “He broke down in front of his friends when he couldn’t handle the stress anymore.”
- “The project’s plan broke down due to a lack of resources.”
- “The elevator broke down, so we had to climb the stairs.”
- “She asked her mentor to help break down the complex theory.”