break down—
1. (of machinery) fail to operate:
- The car broke down on the way to the airport, and I had to take a taxi.
2. (of an attack, talks, etc.) fail; come to nothing:
- I expect the negotiations to break down soon.
3. suffer emotional disorder; lose control of oneself:
- The task before her was so difficult that she almost broke down in performing it.
break up—
1. (of things) separate into smaller pieces or parts:
- In spring the ice on the Great Lakes breaks up.
2. (of a party, meeting, etc.) come to an end:
- The party broke up when the police arrived.
3. (U.S. coll.) convulse with laughter; be greatly amused:
- Peter just broke up when we told him what had happened.
4. (of married people) separate:
- She had heard that John and Lucille had just broken up.