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come apart at the seams

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come apart at the seams

1. To be approaching failure. Boy, this party is really coming apart at the seams. First, there was the issue with the caterer, and now half the guests aren't coming.

2. To become very emotional. Poor Jane really came apart at the seams during the funeral service. I can't watch those sappy movies because I just come apart at the seams every time.

See also: apart, come, seam

come apart at the seams

to be in a bad condition and about to fail or lose control Large segments of the world economy seem to be coming apart at the seams.

Related vocabulary: come apart

Etymology: from the idea that when the seams (places where two pieces of material are sewn together) in clothing come apart, it can no longer be used

See also: apart, come, seam

come apart at the seams

Also, come unglued or unstuck . Become extremely upset; break down. For example, After he lost his job Brad seemed to come apart at the seams or The proposed bank merger is coming unglued, or When her last play flopped she became completely unstuck. This idiom transfers physical to emotional disintegration. [Slang; mid-1900s]

See also: apart, come, seam