car breakdown

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase 'car breakdown' is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when referring to when a car stops working due to a mechanical fault or a failure of the engine, transmission, or electrical system. Example: The car had a breakdown on the way to the airport and we were late for our flight.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

24 human-written examples

How much should you pay for car breakdown cover?

The Guardian - Money

She feels perpetually on the edge of peril — one car breakdown away from disaster.

The Washington Post

Before joining Whitbread, he was in charge of easyJet and the RAC car breakdown service.

The Guardian - Business

For example, it costs £13.50 a month for the travel pack with worldwide family insurance and car breakdown.

Independent

Other cost-saving benefits on current accounts include deals on travel and home tech insurance or car breakdown cover.

The Times

You can also claim for equipment (eg new computers) and vehicles used for business, including petrol and car breakdown cover.

The Guardian - Money

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

36 human-written examples

Robert Kubica, at Renault, said he thought the close battles were due to car breakdowns and errors by the top drivers.

The New York Times - Sports

They suffered car breakdowns and accidents and spent long hours in homemade bug suits sewn by Mrs. Sharnoff to fend off black flies and mosquitoes.

The New York Times - Science

Few of the world's great motor races are as certain to be so full of car breakdowns, accidents and other upsets as the 24 Hours of Le Mans, which runs its 77th edition this weekend.

The New York Times - Sports

But "just in case" and "be prepared" have more urgent meanings these days, even if the emergencies are the same ones that have always made cellphones attractive: car breakdowns, power failures in cordless-phone-only homes, orchestrating pickups of children.

The New York Times - Tech

The W, a fairly new subway line that runs from Ditmars Boulevard in Astoria, Queens, to Whitehall in Lower Manhattan, was rated the worst of the 22 subway lines examined, because, Straphangers said, its service was infrequent and irregular, its number of car breakdowns high, its cars dirty and its announcements garbled.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When writing about travel or insurance, consider including "car breakdown" in your content as it is a common concern for drivers and a relevant search term.

Common error

Be specific by adding "car" to "breakdown" to avoid ambiguity. "Breakdown" alone can refer to emotional or other types of failure, so using "car breakdown" clarifies the context for the reader.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "car breakdown" functions primarily as a noun phrase. It typically acts as a subject or object, denoting an event where a car ceases to function properly. Ludwig examples showcase its use in sentences describing unexpected incidents and planning for potential vehicle issues.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

48%

Science

28%

Wiki

12%

Less common in

Formal & Business

8%

Academia

2%

Reference

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "car breakdown" is a common noun phrase used to describe when a car stops functioning due to a mechanical issue. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and usability across various contexts. It's most frequently found in News & Media, Science, and Wiki articles. When writing about this topic, clarity is key; while “breakdown” alone might cause ambiguity, adding “car” makes the meaning perfectly clear. Consider using alternatives like "vehicle malfunction" or "car trouble" to add variety to your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

vehicle malfunction

Replaces "car" with the more general term "vehicle" and "breakdown" with "malfunction", indicating a failure in function.

automobile failure

Substitutes "car" with the more formal "automobile" and "breakdown" with "failure", suggesting a more technical context.

car trouble

Replaces "breakdown" with "trouble", indicating a problem with the car, though potentially less severe.

engine failure

Focuses specifically on the engine as the source of the breakdown, narrowing the scope.

mechanical failure of car

Specifies that the failure is mechanical in nature, adding detail about the cause of the "breakdown".

car conking out

Uses the informal phrasal verb "conking out" to describe the car stopping unexpectedly.

vehicle not starting

Describes a specific type of "breakdown" where the vehicle is unable to be started.

car developing a fault

Indicates that a problem has arisen with the car, potentially leading to a breakdown.

automotive malfunction

Combines "automotive", relating to cars, with "malfunction", indicating impaired functionality.

car ceasing to function

Formal way of saying that car has stopped running.

FAQs

How to use "car breakdown" in a sentence?

You can use "car breakdown" to describe a situation where a vehicle stops working due to a mechanical issue. For example, "The unexpected "car breakdown" left us stranded on the highway".

What can I say instead of "car breakdown"?

You can use alternatives like "vehicle malfunction", "automobile failure", or "car trouble" depending on the context.

Which is correct, "car breakdown" or "car broke down"?

"Car breakdown" is a noun phrase referring to the event, while "car broke down" is a verb phrase describing the action of the car failing. Both are correct, but used in different grammatical constructions.

What's the difference between "car breakdown" and "car accident"?

A "car breakdown" refers to a mechanical failure that stops the car. A "car accident" involves a collision and potential damage or injury.