collapse

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Related to collapse: lung collapse

collapse into (something)

1. To physically drop or fall into something. Once Sarah crossed the finish line, she collapsed into her boyfriend's arms. After I got home from a 12-hour day at work, I collapsed into a comfy chair and dozed off. When my kid collapsed into bed at 4:00 in the afternoon, I knew she must not have been feeling well.

2. To abruptly enter a negative state, such as a depression. After I lost my job, I collapsed into a serious depression. Economists have been warning that the country could collapse into another recession if preventative measures are not taken. The company is about to collapse into bankruptcy, thanks to that fool's mismanagement.

collapse like a house of cards

To fail abruptly and spectacularly due to having a fundamentally weak, unstable, or insecure structure or organization. (Likened to a literal house of cards, which is built by balancing playing cards against one another, and is very easily toppled). Greg decided against investing in the new technology company because he got the feeling that it would collapse like a house of cards. These sorts of schemes rely so precariously on the continued and unwavering participation of their contributors that they inevitably end up collapsing like houses of cards. So you're just going to cram and miraculously get good grades on all of your exams? Yeah, there's a plan that's gonna collapse like a house of cards!

See also: card, collapse, house, like, of

collapse under (something's) own weight

1. Literally, of a building, structure, item, etc., to be so heavy as to cause its own collapse. The giant skyscraper was so top-heavy that it ended up collapsing under its own weight. You need to add additional supports or else that scaffolding is going to collapse under its own weight. You can't stack all those heavy boxes on top of each other, or they'll collapse under their own weight!

2. By extension, to be or become so onerous, burdensome, or overbearing as to lead to its own downfall or ruin. The company acquired dozens of smaller businesses, but expanding into so many different markets proved to be too much for it to manage, and it ended up collapsing under its own weight. The empire spread itself thin trying to maintain control of so many different nations, and as unrest in those domains grew, it eventually collapsed under its own weight. The king's a fool. His systems of oppression will one day collapse under their own weight, as is so often the case.

collapse under the weight of (someone or something)

To fall down after supporting someone or something that is too heavy. The roof collapsed under the weight of all that snow. What are you doing? The stack is going to collapse under the weight of those heavy boxes you put on top. The old tire swing finally collapsed under the weight of so many kids.

collapse into something

1. Lit. to fall down into something with suddenness, as if out of energy. She was so tired, she collapsed into the chair. Juan collapsed into a chair and fell fast asleep.

2. Fig. [for someone] to fall into a particular kind of despair. The poor man collapsed into a deep depression. Scott collapsed into his own personal brand of grieving.

collapse under someone or something

to cave in under the weight of someone or something. The grandstand collapsed under the weight of the spectators. The bridge collapsed from the force of the flood.

collapse, fall, etc. in/into a ˈheap

fall down heavily and not move: He collapsed in a heap on the floor.