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come/fall apart at the seams

idiom

Definition of come/fall apart at the seams

informal
: to break into parts or pieces —usually used figuratively to describe someone or something that is in very bad condition
  • The plan/company is falling apart at the seams.
  • She looks like she's going to come apart at the seams.

Word by Word Definitions

fall play

  1. : to descend freely by the force of gravity

  2. : to hang freely

  3. : to drop oneself to a lower position

  1. : the act of falling by the force of gravity

  2. : a falling out, off, or away : dropping

  3. : the season when leaves fall from trees : autumn

  1. : of, relating to, or suitable for autumn

See the full definition of fall
apart play

  1. : at a little distance

  2. : away from one another in space or time

  3. : as a separate unit : independently

  1. : separate, isolated

  2. : holding different opinions : divided

See the full definition of apart
seam play seams

  1. : the joining of two pieces (as of cloth or leather) by sewing usually near the edge

  2. : the stitching used in such a joining

  3. : the space between adjacent planks or strakes of a ship

  1. : to join by sewing

  2. : to join as if by sewing (as by welding, riveting, or heat-sealing)

  3. : to mark with lines suggesting seams

See the full definition of seam

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