Meaning trap
come apart
lose emotional control
To become unable to control your emotions, often as a result of stress, shock, or grief.
Don't mix these meanings
Same phrase, different job.
To become unable to control your emotions, often as a result of stress, shock, or grief.
'come apart' also has the more basic meaning 'break into pieces'; this is the advanced sense.
Hear it in context
Notice where the phrase sounds natural.
- After hearing the news, she completely came apart and couldn't stop crying.emotions
- Some people are able to cope with adversity, while others may come apart when faced with unexpected challenges.IELTS speaking
Fix the pattern
Pattern: come apart (emotionally/mentally/at the seams)
WrongHe came apart from the pressure.
RightHe came apart under the pressure.
People come apart UNDER pressure, not 'from'.
Patterncome apart (emotionally/mentally/at the seams)
Use it right
Choose the version that sounds natural in speech.
'Come apart' (or 'fall apart') vividly captures someone breaking down; the paraphrase is clinical.
Build natural chunks
Words that usually travel with it.
come apart (emotionally)under pressureat the seamscompletelyinside
Don't confuse it
Unlike the B1 sense ('break into pieces' physically), this sense is figurative and refers to a person's emotional or mental state, not a physical object.
Related
- come apart (break into pieces) — 'come apart' also has the more basic meaning 'break into pieces'; this is the advanced sense.