break down — 4 meanings

One phrase, 4 different jobs. Tap a meaning to jump to it — then lock each one in by saying it out loud.

phrasal verb4 meanings

1 stop workingIf a machine or vehicle breaks down, it stops working and cannot be used until it is fixed.
2 lose emotional controlIf someone breaks down, they suddenly become very upset and cannot control their feelings, often crying.
3 explain in partsTo break something down means to explain it by dividing it into smaller, simpler parts.
4 collapse negotiationsIf talks, negotiations, or discussions break down, they fail completely and cannot continue, often due to disagreement.

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All meanings, in depth

Ordered by how often you'll hear each one — the meaning tells you what it does, the examples and tips show it in use.

stop working

B1break downMost common

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

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.

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

Common mistake

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

✓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'.

Tell it apart

The car broke down again.

stopped working

Let's break down the cost.

separate it into parts / analyse

Use 'break down' for machines or vehicles, not for people in this sense.Not the same as 'break' (to damage something physically).

Often paired with

break down + machine

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lose emotional control

B2break down

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

She broke down in tears when she heard the news.

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

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

Common mistake

✗He broke down to cry.

✓He broke down crying. / He broke down in tears.

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

Tell it apart

She broke down when she heard the news.

lost emotional control

The car broke down on the motorway.

stopped working

This sense is about emotions, not physical things.Not the same as 'break up' (to end a relationship).

Often paired with

break down + emotion

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explain in parts

B2Break down sth

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

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.

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

Common mistake

✗Let me break down it step by step.

✓Let me break it down step by step.

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

Tell it apart

Let me break the budget down by category.

explain it in parts

The car broke down on the way.

stopped working

Use this when you want to make something easier to understand by separating it into steps or sections.Not about machines or emotions, but about information or tasks.

Often paired with

break down + into parts

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collapse negotiations

C1break down of talks/negotiations/discussions

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

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.

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

Common mistake

✗Negotiations were broken down last night.

✓Negotiations broke down last night.

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

Tell it apart

The talks broke down over pay.

collapsed, ended in failure

The car broke down on the way.

stopped working

'Break down' in this sense is commonly used in formal and semi-formal contexts, especially in news, business, or academic discussions about failed attempts to reach agreement.This sense is figurative and refers to the failure of abstract processes like negotiations, not to machines stopping (B1) or people losing emotional control (B2).

Often paired with

talks/negotiations break down

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Practise one meaning at a time and save the ones you mix up for review.

stop working lose emotional control explain in parts collapse negotiations