come apart at the seams: meaning & examples

Open in app

Language: English

Meanings:

  • 1.

    USUKWorldwideinformalneutral
    • To begin to fail, disintegrate, or break down in a way that causes collapse or serious dysfunction.

    Examples

    Beta

    • The old factory seemed to come apart at the seams after years of neglect.

      The old factory seemed to come apart at the seams after years of neglect.

    • If the economy keeps deteriorating, the whole system might come apart at the seams.

      If the economy keeps deteriorating, the whole system might come apart at the seams.

    • When the company lost its biggest client, it started to come apart at the seams very quickly.

      When the company lost its biggest client, it started to come apart at the seams very quickly.

  • 2.

    USUKWorldwideinformal
    • To lose emotional control or suffer a mental or emotional breakdown.

    Examples

    Beta

    • After hearing the heartbreaking news, she came apart at the seams and couldn’t stop crying.

      After hearing the heartbreaking news, she came apart at the seams and couldn’t stop crying.

    • He almost came apart at the seams when he lost his job unexpectedly.

      He almost came apart at the seams when he lost his job unexpectedly.

    • When the pressure mounted, the team captain came apart at the seams during the final minutes of the game.

      When the pressure mounted, the team captain came apart at the seams during the final minutes of the game.

  • 3.

    USUKWorldwideneutral
    • Literally, to come apart at the stitching or seams, as a garment or object that is falling apart.

    Examples

    Beta

    • The seam on my jacket came apart at the seams after I caught it on the door handle.

      The seam on my jacket came apart at the seams after I caught it on the door handle.

    • Be careful with that old suitcase; it looks like it might come apart at the seams.

      Be careful with that old suitcase; it looks like it might come apart at the seams.

    • Her dress literally came apart at the seams right before the big presentation.

      Her dress literally came apart at the seams right before the big presentation.

    • After washing the shirt too many times, the collar came apart at the seams and needed mending.

      After washing the shirt too many times, the collar came apart at the seams and needed mending.

  • 4.

    • To be approaching failure.

Examples:

  • EN: It's beginning to come apart at the seams already.
    ES: Como verás, esto está empezando a desbaratarse.
  • EN: Things began to come apart at the seams. I drove Traybin to ..
    ES: La cosa se ha complicado, y he traído a Traybin aquí.
  • EN: It's beginning to come apart at the seams already.
    ES: Como verás, esto está empezando a desbaratarse.
  • EN: Things began to come apart at the seams. I drove Traybin to ..
    ES: La cosa se ha complicado, y he traído a Traybin aquí.
  • EN: - I'd come apart at the seams.
    ES: - Me impresionaría mucho.
  • EN: The Clary case has come apart at the seams.
    ES: El Caso Clary se ha desmoronado.
  • EN: It's when you don't have one that you come apart at the seams.
    ES: Es cuando no tienes una cuando revientas por las costuras.
  • EN: You're about to come apart at the seams.
    ES: Estas a punto de deshilacharte.
  • EN: - Don't come apart at the seams!
    ES: -Deja de quejarte!
  • EN: You don't get to finish, you come apart at the seams.
    ES: Si no acabas, te descoses.
    ES: No logras terminar, pero te empiezas a desmoronar.
  • EN: We try this and the ship is gonna come apart at the seams.
    ES: Si intentamos esto, la nave se va a romper por las costuras.
  • EN: Thirty minutes for Trish to come apart at the seams.
    ES: 30 minutos para que Trish salga de las penumbras.
  • EN: I have to say it's incredibly unfortunate how the Ravens have come apart at the seams.
    ES: Tengo que admitir que es increíblemente desafortunado...
  • EN: So he has to believe in some way, that this is his destiny, but then when that marriage begins to come apart at the seams... - Wait a minute.
    ES: Algo hizo partirse el avión y caer desde el cielo
  • EN: we'll come apart at the seams.
    ES: Sí. Ya es hora de que terminemos esto. No podemos esperar mucho más.
  • EN: Hate to see it come apart at the seams."
    ES: Odio ver como se rompe por las costuras."
  • EN: That, like the other universe, our world is starting to come apart at the seams.
    ES: Como el otro universo, parece que nuestro mundo está empezando a desarmarse.

Related Idioms

Validation Count: 0

Sourced from Wiktionary

Source: Wiktionary

come apart at the seams | Idiomator