break down

kaputtgehen, ausfallen

Bei einer Maschine: wegen eines Defekts nicht mehr funktionieren.

In einfachem Englisch: If a machine does this, it stops working because something is wrong with it.

• My car broke down yesterday.
• The washing machine keeps breaking down.
• What will we do if the bus breaks down?

Synonyme: fail, stop working

Häufige Wendungen: cars break down, machines break down, break down suddenly

zusammenbrechen

Wegen starker Gefühle oder Stress die Kontrolle verlieren oder nicht mehr mit der Situation zurechtkommen.

In einfachem Englisch: If someone does this, strong feelings or stress make them lose control or become unable to cope.

• She broke down and cried.
• He nearly broke down under the pressure.
• I broke down when I heard about the accident.

So benutzt man es: break down in tears (She broke down in tears when she heard the news.); break down and do something (He broke down and began to sob.)

Synonyme: fall apart, collapse

Häufige Wendungen: break down crying, break down in tears, break down under pressure

aufschlüsseln

Informationen in kleinere Teile aufteilen und diese verständlich und genau erklären.

In einfachem Englisch: If you do this, you divide information into smaller parts to explain it clearly and in detail.

• Please break down the costs for me.
• She broke the process down into five steps.
• Can you break these figures down by month?

So benutzt man es: break something down into something (She broke the task down into small steps.); break something down by something (The report breaks spending down by department.)

Synonyme: analyze, itemize

Häufige Wendungen: break down costs, break down the figures, break down something

sich zersetzen, zersetzen

Durch Verrotten oder Verarbeitung in einfachere Stoffe zerfallen oder etwas so zerlegen.

In einfachem Englisch: If something does this, it slowly changes into simpler substances as it rots or is processed.

• Old leaves break down slowly.
• These bacteria break down dead plants.
• How long does food waste take to break down?

So benutzt man es: break down into something (The leaves break down into rich compost.); break something down (Bacteria break the waste down.)

Synonyme: decompose, decay, rot

Häufige Wendungen: leaves break down, break down food, break down into nutrients

zusammenbrechen, schwächen, abbauen

Als System oder Beziehung nicht mehr richtig funktionieren; auch Hindernisse oder Widerstände schwächen.

In einfachem Englisch: If something does this, it becomes too weak to work properly; you can also cause this change.

• Their trust slowly broke down.
• The talks broke down after another disagreement.
• Shared activities can break down barriers between neighbours.

So benutzt man es: break something down (Regular contact helped break their resistance down.)

Synonyme: collapse, weaken

Häufige Wendungen: talks break down, break down barriers, break down resistance

nachgeben

Schließlich etwas tun wollen, das man vorher abgelehnt oder vermieden hat.

In einfachem Englisch: If you do this, you finally agree to do something you had been refusing or avoiding.

• I broke down and said yes.
• She finally broke down and ordered dessert.
• Will he break down and pay for a taxi?

So benutzt man es: break down and do something (I broke down and bought a new phone.)

Synonyme: give in, relent

Gegenteile: resist

Häufige Wendungen: finally break down, break down and agree