break down — explain in parts
phrasal verbB2IELTS 6+neutralcommon
To break something down means to explain it by dividing it into smaller, simpler parts.
Say it like a native
Textbook Allow me to disaggregate the figures into their constituent components.
Native Let me break the figures down for you.
'Break down' is the everyday verb for explaining something part by part; 'disaggregate into constituent components' is jargon.
Pattern: Break down + object
In use
- Let me break down the process so everyone understands.study
- In my presentation, I broke down the main points to make them clearer for the audience.IELTS speaking
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'.
Common collocations
break down + into parts— the costs, the steps, the data, it for me
Don't confuse it
Not about machines or emotions, but about information or tasks.
Related
- break down (stop working) — Another meaning of 'break down' is 'stop working'; compare the examples to keep the meanings separate.