break down — stop working
phrasal verbB1IELTS 5+neutralcommon
If a machine or vehicle breaks down, it stops working and cannot be used until it is fixed.
Say it like a native
Textbook The vehicle ceased to function on the motorway.
Native The car broke down on the motorway.
'Break down' is the natural verb for a machine failing; 'ceased to function' is over-formal.
Pattern: Subject + break down
In use
- My car broke down on the way to work this morning.daily life
- During my trip, our train broke down for two hours, which made us miss our connection.IELTS speaking
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'.
Common collocations
break down + machine— the car, the bus, the engine, halfway
Don't confuse it
Not the same as 'break' (to damage something physically).
Related
- break down (lose emotional control) — Another meaning of 'break down' is 'lose emotional control'; compare the examples to keep the meanings separate.