come apart — break into pieces
phrasal verbB1IELTS 5+neutralcommon
To separate into pieces, usually because something is weak or damaged.
Say it like a native
Textbook The old book disintegrated into separate pieces in my hands.
Native The old book just came apart in my hands.
'Come apart' is the everyday verb for something falling to bits; 'disintegrated into separate pieces' is formal.
Pattern: come apart (no object)
In use
- My old shoes came apart after just a few months.daily life
- In my opinion, cheap furniture often comes apart quickly, so it's better to invest in better quality.IELTS speaking
Common mistake
✗ The toy came apart in pieces.
✓ The toy came apart. / The toy fell to pieces.
'Come apart' already means separate into pieces — 'apart in pieces' is redundant.
Common collocations
come apart— at the seams, in my hands, easily, completely
Don't confuse it
Compare with 'take apart,' which means to separate something on purpose.