shattered down

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "shattered down" is not commonly used in written English and may not be considered correct.
It could be used in a context where something has been broken or destroyed and is being described as having fallen or collapsed. Example: "The vase shattered down onto the floor, scattering pieces everywhere."

News & Media

Formal & Business

Wiki

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

As the artistic unit of the album has been shattered, down to a handful of shuffled MP3's, musical theater offers a refuge for songwriters who want to tell longer stories, the way the songwriter Stew did in his autobiographical rock musical "Passing Strange".

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

57 human-written examples

Soon after Shabana came outside carrying her 2-year-old son, part of the house came shattering down behind her.

Unicef

Lying by the pool, drinking beers, Bob and I heard this enormous blast and a succession of windows shattering down the street.

The New York Times - Magazine

Debris of all shapes and sizes in scattered piles atop the hill overlooked the shattered wreckage down below.

Huffington Post

Just this: One night, no more than a few hours, in which the only thing shattered, beaten down, and abruptly displaced, is the bitter air of hatred and despair that we here have all somehow learned to breathe.

Huffington Post

I crossed the street with my head down, shattered because she could see right through me.

The New Yorker

That's also why, just a few years after Roosevelt's death, Jim Crow began to come tumbling down, shattered by a social movement that had been invigorated by the promise, if not necessarily the practice, of the New Deal era.

The New York Times - Books

Buddy's dream of a concert career was shattered after Adrian Wasp tore down the old Metro Concert Hall to erect a "gold-tinted" office tower.

The New York Times

Another ringleader, Rich Vos ("Women Aren't Funny"), said, "When we left the table, we left shattered and beaten down".

The New Yorker

Here, though, he returns his focus to rebuilding his shattered empire, shaking down cake shops, motels and other businesses that he previously assumed he had outgrown.

The Guardian - TV & Radio

Witnesses told of metal chunks flying in the air, of searing heat waves and blast forces that knocked people down, shattered windows and unhinged doors miles away as the explosion erupted at 10 10 a.m. at Port Mobil on Arthur Kill, the narrow, busy waterway between the island's western shore and New Jersey.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "shattered down", ensure the context involves both breakage into pieces and a downward movement or collapse. It's best suited for describing physical objects or metaphorical situations where something is utterly destroyed and falls apart.

Common error

Avoid using "shattered down" when "broken down" is more appropriate. "Broken down" often refers to a non-physical process or a malfunctioning state, while "shattered down" implies forceful disintegration and falling.

Linguistic Context

Descriptive verb phrase. "Shattered down" functions to describe the manner in which something breaks and falls, emphasizing both the fragmentation and the downward movement. This is supported by the limited Ludwig examples, which show the phrase used to depict scenes of destruction or collapse.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Science

20%

Formal & Business

15%

Less common in

Wiki

15%

Reference

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "shattered down" is a phrasal verb used to describe the action of something breaking into pieces while also falling or collapsing. While Ludwig AI considers this phrase acceptable, its occurrence is relatively uncommon, as demonstrated by the limited number of examples. When writing with "shattered down", ensure the context appropriately conveys both the breaking and falling aspects. Ludwig's analysis reveals the phrase tends to appear in neutral contexts, particularly in news and media, to vividly describe destruction or collapse. The limited number of occurrences suggest that considering synonyms like "crumbled down" or ""collapsed down"" may provide better clarity depending on the desired nuance.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

crumbled down

Focuses more on a gradual disintegration rather than a sudden shattering.

collapsed down

Emphasizes a sudden loss of structure and falling, less about the breaking apart.

smashed to pieces

Highlights the forceful breaking of something into many fragments.

crashed down

Implies a forceful and noisy fall, suitable for physical objects.

broken apart

A more general term for something being divided into separate pieces, regardless of falling.

fallen apart

Suggests a disintegration over time, often used metaphorically for relationships or plans.

reduced to rubble

Focuses on the end state of being completely broken into small pieces.

tumbled down

Describes a less violent fall, often in a rolling or uncontrolled manner.

totally destroyed

Indicates complete ruin, lacking the specific imagery of shattering.

completely devastated

Refers to emotional or widespread damage, but not necessarily physical breakage.

FAQs

How can I use "shattered down" in a sentence?

You can use "shattered down" to describe something that has broken into pieces and collapsed, for example: "After the explosion, the building "collapsed down" and the windows "shattered down"."

What's the difference between "shattered down" and "broken down"?

"Shattered down" implies a violent breaking and falling, whereas "broken down" typically refers to a malfunctioning or non-physical process.

What are some alternatives to "shattered down"?

Some alternatives include "crumbled down", ""collapsed down"", or "smashed to pieces", depending on the specific context.

Is "shattered down" grammatically correct?

While not as common as other similar phrases, "shattered down" is generally grammatically acceptable when used to describe something physically breaking and falling.