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fall apart

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fall apart (at the seams)

 and come apart at the seams 

1. . Lit. [for something] to break apart where its parts are joined. The dress fell apart at the seams. I wouldn't have thought that a coat that cost that much money would just come apart at the seams.

2. Fig. to break down mentally. Tom works too much and finally fell apart. Poor Ralph simply fell apart at the seams.

See also: apart, fall

fall apart

1. to stop working or fail completely Her marriage fell apart after about ten years. The deal to sell the company fell apart last summer. Related vocabulary: go to pieces

2. to break into pieces Cook the tomatoes until they begin to fall apart. When the roof wasn't repaired, the building really began to fall apart.

See also: apart, fall

fall apart

Collapse, break down, either physically or mentally and emotionally. For example, This chair is about to fall apart, or After his wife died, he fell apart. For synonyms for the latter usage, see come apart at the seams; go to pieces.

See also: apart, fall

fall apart

v.

1. To disintegrate, collapse, or break into pieces: The rickety chair fell apart when I sat on it.

2. To suffer a nervous breakdown: The political prisoner fell apart after years in solitary confinement.

3. To lose structure or continuity: Our vacation plans fell apart because we couldn't agree on which country to visit.

See also: apart, fall