Commonly confused
Break up vs Break down
“Break up” and “Break down” look alike but pull in different directions. Here is what each one means, with examples — and the difference that learners most often miss.
The key difference
Break up means break into pieces. Break down means stop working.
break up
- 1
Break into pieces
“The old boat broke up on the rocks.”
- 2
End a relationship or gathering
“They broke up after two years together.”
break down
- 1
(of a vehicle or machine) stop working
“The car broke down on the motorway.”
- 2
Lose emotional control and start crying
“She broke down at the funeral.”
- 3
Separate something into smaller parts to understand it
“Let's break the costs down.”
Stop mixing them up
Sink In turns confusable pairs like this into quick contrast drills, so the right particle becomes automatic.