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break down — 4 meanings

One phrase, 4 meanings. Learn them one at a time, then test yourself.

phrasal verb4 meanings
break down
stop workinglose emotional controlexplain in partscollapse negotiations

Meaning 1 · most common

stop working

A man stands beside his car on a country road; the bonnet is open and steam rises from the engine.

If a machine or vehicle breaks down, it stops working and cannot be used until it is fixed.

How oftenCommon
LevelB1
Used inSpeech & writing

Examples

My car broke down on the way to work this morning.

A: Why are you late?
B: Sorry, the bus broke down and I had to walk.

Common mistake

Not: My laptop broke down, so I can't open the file.

Say: My laptop crashed / stopped working, so I can't open the file.

'Break down' suits vehicles and big machines; for computers/phones natives usually say 'crash' or 'stop working'.

More on “stop working”Another example · Tell it apart · Goes with · Tip

Another example

During my trip, our train broke down for two hours, which made us miss our connection.

Tell it apart

The car broke down again.

  • stopped working

Let's break down the cost.

  • separate it into parts / analyse

Goes with

  • break down + machine
Practice saying this
Next meaning: lose emotional control

Meaning 2

lose emotional control

A woman at a kitchen table cries into her hands over an opened letter while her friend comforts her.

If someone breaks down, they suddenly become very upset and cannot control their feelings, often crying.

How oftenCommon
LevelB2
Used inSpeech & writing

Examples

She broke down in tears when she heard the news.

A: How did he react?
B: He broke down and couldn't stop crying.

Common mistake

Not: He broke down to cry.

Say: He broke down crying. / He broke down in tears.

Use 'break down crying / in tears', not 'break down to cry'.

More on “lose emotional control”Another example · Tell it apart · Goes with · Tip

Another example

When I failed the exam, I broke down because I had worked so hard for it.

Tell it apart

She broke down when she heard the news.

  • lost emotional control

The car broke down on the motorway.

  • stopped working

Goes with

  • break down + emotion
Practice saying this
Next meaning: explain in parts

Meaning 3

explain in parts

  • Break down sth
A teacher points at a whiteboard where one tangled scribble becomes four small, simple parts.

To break something down means to explain it by dividing it into smaller, simpler parts.

How oftenCommon
LevelB2
Used inSpeech & writing

Examples

Let me break down the process so everyone understands.

A: I don't get this math problem.
B: I'll break it down for you step by step.

Common mistake

Not: Let me break down it step by step.

Say: Let me break it down step by step.

With a pronoun, the object goes in the middle: 'break it down'.

More on “explain in parts”Another example · Tell it apart · Goes with · Tip

Another example

In my presentation, I broke down the main points to make them clearer for the audience.

Tell it apart

Let me break the budget down by category.

  • explain it in parts

The car broke down on the way.

  • stopped working

Goes with

  • break down + into parts
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Next meaning: collapse negotiations

Meaning 4

collapse negotiations

  • break down of talks/negotiations/discussions
Two business people turn away from each other across a meeting table; the deal between them has split in two.

If talks, negotiations, or discussions break down, they fail completely and cannot continue, often due to disagreement.

How oftenCommon
LevelC1
Used inSpeech & writing

Examples

Talks between the two companies broke down after neither side was willing to compromise.

A: Did the peace negotiations make any progress?
B: Unfortunately, they broke down over the issue of territory.

Common mistake

Not: Negotiations were broken down last night.

Say: Negotiations broke down last night.

Here 'break down' is intransitive — talks break down; they don't 'get broken down'.

More on “collapse negotiations”Another example · Tell it apart · Goes with · Tip

Another example

If discussions between management and staff representatives break down, it can lead to industrial action and a loss of trust.

Tell it apart

The talks broke down over pay.

  • collapsed, ended in failure

The car broke down on the way.

  • stopped working

Goes with

  • talks/negotiations break down
Practice saying this
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stop workinglose emotional controlexplain in partscollapse negotiations