could come crashing down

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "could come crashing down" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a situation where something is at risk of failing or collapsing suddenly and dramatically. Example: "If the company doesn't address its financial issues, its entire business model could come crashing down."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

26 human-written examples

"The machine could come crashing down on their shin," he said.

The New York Times - Health

Any fluctuations in control or power, and the whole thing could come crashing down".

The New Yorker

"You see that the whole thing could really be a house of cards that could come crashing down," Mr. Dean said.

The New York Times

Remove those foundations and the whole edifice could come crashing down," warned Dr Peter Carter, the chief executive of the college.

The Guardian

The statue enacts a dialogue that many people feel internally, between a primal fear that everything could come crashing down, and an exhilarating sense that we are, somehow, managing to keep it suspended in the ether of nothingness.

The Washington Post

If a quick solution is not found to the dispute over a trial site, he said, "this whole thing could come crashing down," forcing the administration to reverse course and place Mr. Mohammed before a military commission at Guantánamo Bay, Cuba.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

34 human-written examples

"It all could have come crashing down on you," he noted.

Vice

It could have all come crashing down right there--Castle Rock hurled the project into turnaround and the duo risked not even getting cameos in the resulting movie.

Los Angeles Times

While Bitcoin is in the earliest stages of adoption right now—and it could, of course, all come crashing down before it hits the next stage a company called CoinKite in Toronto is developing debit machines for merchants to accept Bitcoin and other virtual currencies.

Vice

Or are they dependent on the classification of drivers as independent contractors, which, if challenged, could cause their valuations to come crashing down?

The Guardian - Tech

Certainly the temptation of turning around the Knicks at the same time that the Lakers organization has come crashing down could appeal to him.

The Guardian - Sport

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "could come crashing down" to describe situations where a system, structure, or idea is vulnerable to sudden and complete failure. It often carries a sense of impending doom or crisis.

Common error

Avoid using "could come crashing down" in everyday conversation. It's a strong and somewhat dramatic phrase, best reserved for situations where the potential consequences are significant.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "could come crashing down" functions as a verbal phrase expressing a potential future event. It paints a vivid picture of something failing dramatically and completely. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and usability.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

90%

Formal & Business

5%

Science

3%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

1%

Wiki

0.5%

Reference

0.5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "could come crashing down" is a powerful idiom used to describe the potential for sudden and catastrophic failure. Ludwig AI confirms its correct grammatical structure. Appearing most frequently in news and media contexts, it serves to emphasize the risk of collapse in systems, structures, or ideas. While grammatically sound, its dramatic tone makes it more suitable for formal analysis than casual conversation. Alternatives like "might collapse" or "could fail" offer less intense ways to convey a similar meaning.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

might collapse

Focuses on the possibility of a sudden failure or breakdown.

might fall apart

Suggests a breakdown into separate pieces or components.

might unravel

Implies a gradual process of something becoming undone or disordered.

might implode

Implies a collapse inward, often due to internal pressure or weakness.

could disintegrate

Emphasizes a gradual breakdown or loss of cohesion.

could crumble

Suggests a gradual decay or disintegration, often of something substantial.

could fail spectacularly

Highlights the potential for a dramatic and public failure.

could be undermined

Highlights the potential for something to be weakened or destabilized from within.

could be ruined

Focuses on the potential for something to be destroyed or spoiled.

might go wrong

Expresses a general concern about something going awry or failing.

FAQs

How can I use "could come crashing down" in a sentence?

The phrase "could come crashing down" is used to express the potential for a system, plan, or structure to fail dramatically. For instance, "If the company doesn't address its financial issues, its entire business model "could come crashing down"."

What's a less dramatic way to say "could come crashing down"?

If you want to express the potential for failure without the dramatic imagery, you can use phrases like "might collapse", "could fail", or "might fall apart".

Is it always negative when something "could come crashing down"?

Yes, the phrase generally implies negative consequences, suggesting that something valuable or important is at risk of being destroyed or ruined. It is rarely used in a positive context.

What kind of things are likely to "come crashing down"?

Abstract concepts such as "ideologies", "systems", or "markets" often "come crashing down". Concrete objects, like buildings, are more likely to simply "collapse" or "fall down".