break down

averiarse, estropearse

Dicho de una máquina, dejar de funcionar por una avería.

En inglés sencillo: 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?

Sinónimos: fail, stop working

Expresiones frecuentes: cars break down, machines break down, break down suddenly

derrumbarse, venirse abajo

Perder el control o sentirse incapaz de seguir adelante por emociones intensas o estrés.

En inglés sencillo: 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.

Cómo se usa: 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.)

Sinónimos: fall apart, collapse

Expresiones frecuentes: break down crying, break down in tears, break down under pressure

desglosar

Dividir información en partes pequeñas para explicarla con claridad y detalle.

En inglés sencillo: 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?

Cómo se usa: 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.)

Sinónimos: analyze, itemize

Expresiones frecuentes: break down costs, break down the figures, break down something

descomponerse, descomponer

Se transformer en substances plus simples en pourrissant ou sous l’effet d’un traitement.

En inglés sencillo: 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?

Cómo se usa: break down into something (The leaves break down into rich compost.); break something down (Bacteria break the waste down.)

Sinónimos: decompose, decay, rot

Expresiones frecuentes: leaves break down, break down food, break down into nutrients

venirse abajo, debilitar, derribar

Dejar de funcionar bien, como un sistema o una relación; también debilitar barreras o resistencias.

En inglés sencillo: 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.

Cómo se usa: break something down (Regular contact helped break their resistance down.)

Sinónimos: collapse, weaken

Expresiones frecuentes: talks break down, break down barriers, break down resistance

ceder

Aceptar finalmente hacer algo que antes rechazabas o evitabas.

En inglés sencillo: 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?

Cómo se usa: break down and do something (I broke down and bought a new phone.)

Sinónimos: give in, relent

Antónimos: resist

Expresiones frecuentes: finally break down, break down and agree