break down
BothSense-dependent: some meanings take an object and split, others take none. Check the sense you mean.
How to say it
Stress the particle, not the verb: break DOWN. Saying “BREAK down” is the clearest learner tell — the verb stays light and the particle carries the beat.
Do not release the /k/. Before the consonant of “down” the stop is held and swallowed rather than popped — the same unreleased-stop move as in hot dog. One smooth unit: “break down”.
Verb vs noun
As a noun the stress flips to the front: the verb is break DOWN, the noun is BREAKDOWN. Same two words, different beat — “to break DOWN” is the action, “a breakdown” is the thing. Getting this backwards makes the sentence land oddly even when every sound is right.
4 meanings
- 1
(Of a machine or vehicle) to stop working.
- “My car broke down on the highway two miles from home.”
- “The printer broke down right before the deadline.”
Similar: fail, conk out
- 2
(Of talks, negotiations or a system) to collapse and stop functioning.
- “The negotiations broke down after both sides failed to reach an agreement.”
- “Communication between the two departments had completely broken down.”
Similar: collapse, fail
- 3
To lose control of your emotions and start crying.
- “She broke down when she heard the news.”
- “He held it together at the funeral and broke down in the car.”
Similar: fall apart
- 4
To separate something into smaller parts for analysis.
- “Let's break the budget down by department.”
- “The report breaks down the costs month by month.”
Similar: analyse, itemise