Grammar fix
conk out
suddenly stop working
If a machine or engine conks out, it suddenly stops working.
phrasal verb
How oftenCommon
LevelB2
Used inMostly spoken
Hear it in context
Notice where the phrase sounds natural.
My old laptop conked out just before I finished the report.
Our air conditioner conked out during a heatwave, and the flat became unbearably hot within an hour.
Fix the pattern
One small grammar move makes it sound right.
Not: The car was broken on the motorway, so I called a mechanic.
Say: The car conked out on the motorway, so I called a mechanic.
'Was broken' describes a state, not the moment it suddenly stopped; for that moment say 'conked out' (or 'broke down').
Don't confuse it
Other ways to say it
A machine suddenly stops working
How formalVery casualNeutral
conk outYou're here · Very informal: a machine or engine stops working.
give outStop functioning after prolonged use or strain.break downThe usual choice for failed vehicles or machinery.