1
general::
noun mechanical failure ADJ. electrical, mechanical BREAKDOWN + VERB occur BREAKDOWN + NOUN organization, service The national breakdown organizations are on hand to help motorists 24 hours a day. | crane, lorry, vehicle failure/end of sth ADJ. serious | complete, irretrievable The only ground for divorce is the irretrievable breakdown of the marriage. | communication, family, marital, marriage, relationship VERB + BREAKDOWN cause, lead to PREP. ~ in/of a breakdown in negotiations collapse of mental health ADJ. emotional, mental, nervous, psychological VERB + BREAKDOWN have, suffer list of the details of sth ADJ. detailed, full | cost VERB + BREAKDOWN prepare I have prepared a detailed cost breakdown for the project. | give sb, provide (sb with) PREP. ~ by, ~ of Please provide us with a breakdown of expenditure by department.
Oxford Collocations Dictionary
2
general::
breakdown
ADJECTIVES/NOUN + breakdown
marriage/marital breakdown
• problems caused by the increase in marital breakdown
family breakdown
• A growing proportion of children are affected by family breakdown.
communication breakdown
(= when people do not talk or are unable to talk )
• The misunderstanding was the result of a communication breakdown.
complete/total breakdown
• The disagreement finally led to a complete breakdown of their relationship.
irretrievable breakdown
formal (= one that is impossible to put right again )
• The irretrievable breakdown of a marriage may be grounds for divorce.
verbs
cause/lead to a breakdown
• Money problems often cause marriage breakdown.
transnet.ir
3
general::
Phrase(s): a (nervous) breakdown
Fig. a physical and mental collapse brought on by great anxiety over a period of time. • After month after month of stress and strain, Sally had a nervous breakdown.
McGrawhill's American Idioms And Phrasal Verbs