Phrase: Break down

Phrasal Verb: Break down


The phrasal verb "break down" can be used in many different ways since it has different meanings. 

1. Break down - (of a machine or vehicle) to stop working because of a fault.


Example Sentences

  • "The telephone system has broken down."
  • "The car broke down on the freeway."
  • "The car broke down halfway through the roadtrip across the country."


2. Break down - (of health condition) to become very bad or a complete loss of physical, mental, or emotional vitality : a physical, mental, or nervous collapse

  • You may come across the expressions "nervous breakdown" or "mental breakdown" that describes a period of intense mental distress or illness that occurs suddenly. During this period, you’re unable to function in your everyday life.

Example Sentences

  • "His health broke down under the pressure of work."
  • "She had a nervous breakdown shortly after her sister's death."
  • "She suffered a nervous breakdown after the death of her child."


3. Break down -  (of emotion) to lose control of your feelings and start crying.


Example Sentences

  • "She broke down and wept when she heard the news."
  • "She broke down and cried when her father died."
  • "I wanted to break down and cry when he told me he was leaving."

4. Break down - To divide something into parts in order to analyze it or make it easier to do.


Example Sentences

  • "Break your expenditures down into bills, food, and other."
  • "Each lesson is broken down into several units."
  • "The amount doesn’t seem quite so bad when you break it down into monthly payments."
  • "This math equation is easier if you break it down into several parts."

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