break down someone

break down someone
break down (someone) 1. to cause someone to become emotional.

Andy broke down and cried several times during his retirement speech.

2. to weaken someone.

I felt so good, I felt like nothing could break me down or make me sick.


New idioms dictionary. 2014.

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  • break down — (someone) 1. to cause someone to become emotional. Andy broke down and cried several times during his retirement speech. 2. to weaken someone. I felt so good, I felt like nothing could break me down or make me sick …   New idioms dictionary

  • break down phrasal — verb 1 MACHINE (I) if a large machine, especially a car, breaks down, it stops working: The elevators in this building are always breaking down. 2 FAIL (I) if a discussion, system etc breaks down, it fails because there are problems: Peace talks… …   Longman dictionary of contemporary English

  • break down — 1) PHRASAL VERB If a machine or a vehicle breaks down, it stops working. [V P] Their car broke down. 2) PHRASAL VERB If a discussion, relationship, or system breaks down, it fails because of a problem or disagreement. [V P] Talks with business… …   English dictionary

  • break·down — /ˈbreıkˌdaʊn/ noun, pl downs 1 : a failure of a machine to function : an occurrence in which a machine (such as a car) stops working [count] We had a breakdown on the highway. [=our car broke down on the highway; our car stopped working on the… …   Useful english dictionary

  • break — ► VERB (past broke; past part. broken) 1) separate into pieces as a result of a blow, shock, or strain. 2) make or become inoperative; stop working. 3) interrupt (a continuity, sequence, or course). 4) fail to observe (a law, regulation, or… …   English terms dictionary

  • break — [brāk] vt. broke, broken, breaking [ME breken < OE brecan < IE base * bhreg > BREACH, BREECH, Ger brechen, L frangere] 1. to cause to come apart by force; split or crack sharply into pieces; smash; burst 2. a) …   English World dictionary

  • break — break1 [ breık ] (past tense broke [ brouk ] ; past participle broken [ broukən ] ) verb *** ▸ 1 separate into pieces ▸ 2 fail to obey rules ▸ 3 make a hole/cut ▸ 4 destroy someone s confidence ▸ 5 when people learn news ▸ 6 stop for a short time …   Usage of the words and phrases in modern English

  • break — break1 W1S1 [breık] v past tense broke [brəuk US brouk] past participle broken [ˈbrəukən US ˈbrou ] ▬▬▬▬▬▬▬ 1¦(separate into pieces)¦ 2¦(bones)¦ 3¦(machines)¦ 4¦(rules/laws)¦ 5¦(promise/agreement)¦ 6¦(stop/rest)¦ 7¦(end something)¦ …   Dictionary of contemporary English

  • break — [c]/breɪk / (say brayk) verb (broke or, Archaic, brake, broken or, Archaic, broke, breaking) – …  

  • break*/*/*/ — [breɪk] (past tense broke [brəʊk] ; past participle broken [ˈbrəʊkən] ) verb I 1) [I/T] if something breaks, or if you break it, it separates into two or more pieces when it is hit, dropped etc I broke two dishes this morning.[/ex] Joey broke… …   Dictionary for writing and speaking English

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