things are breaking up

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "things are breaking up" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a situation where relationships, groups, or systems are deteriorating or coming apart. Example: "After months of tension, it became clear that things are breaking up between the team members, and a resolution was needed."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

"Things are breaking up out there".

The New York Times - Arts

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

59 human-written examples

Good thing she's breaking up with this guy, because he breaks into her house and taps into a computer.

Los Angeles Times

When my first marriage was breaking up and things were getting serious with Richard [Madeley], I said, you've got to understand I was in a three-pack with the twins and I would never do anything to hurt my boys.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

While you are in the first blush of a romance — feeling flushed, weak-kneed and infatuated — the last thing you want to think about is breaking up.

The New York Times

"The group was breaking up".

The New York Times

A couple is breaking up.

The New York Times

The band was breaking up".

Wikipedia

Stage six was breaking up.

BMC Nursing

The first thing I would do is break up the banks so that they are much smaller and they could all fail.

Huffington Post

Another thing you can do is break up a sentence with a dialogue tag to indicate a pause or to show that the character is thinking or struggling to find something to say.

WikiHow

I know, these guys were just dancing and AmeriKKKa is turning into a totalitarian police state and blah blah blah, but a flash mob (aka the lamest fucking things on the entire planet) being broken up by a spontaneous public outburst of police brutality is still kinda funny, right?

Vice

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "things are breaking up" to describe a general decline or disintegration in situations where specific elements are becoming separated or non-functional.

Common error

Avoid using "things are breaking up" in highly formal or academic writing. Opt for more precise and professional language like "relationships are dissolving" or "systems are collapsing" for enhanced clarity and impact.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "things are breaking up" functions as an expression describing a process of disintegration or dissolution. According to Ludwig, this phrase is usable in written English, signifying that relationships, groups, or systems are deteriorating.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Wiki

30%

Science

10%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

7%

Formal & Business

7%

Reference

6%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "things are breaking up" is a common expression used to describe a situation where relationships, systems, or other entities are disintegrating. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness and usability in written English. While grammatically sound, it's more suitable for neutral to informal contexts. More formal or academic writing may benefit from using more precise alternatives such as "relationships are dissolving" or "systems are collapsing". The phrase appears frequently in news and media, as well as on wikis, illustrating its broad applicability in describing various scenarios of decline or separation.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

things are falling apart

Focuses on the disintegration and decline of a situation.

things are disintegrating

Highlights the process of something losing its integrity.

relationships are dissolving

Specifically refers to the ending of connections between people.

systems are collapsing

Indicates a failure of a structured framework.

bonds are fraying

Suggests a weakening of connections or agreements.

alliances are crumbling

Focuses on the breakdown of partnerships or agreements.

the situation is deteriorating

Emphasizes the worsening condition of events.

the group is disbanding

Specifically refers to the formal ending of a group or organization.

ties are being severed

Suggests a deliberate and forceful ending of connections.

the structure is fragmenting

Indicates a process where something is breaking into smaller parts.

FAQs

What does "things are breaking up" mean?

The phrase "things are breaking up" generally means that relationships, systems, or situations are deteriorating or coming to an end.

What can I say instead of "things are breaking up"?

You can use alternatives like "things are falling apart", "relationships are dissolving", or "systems are collapsing" depending on the context.

Is "things are breaking up" formal or informal?

"Things are breaking up" tends to be more informal. In formal contexts, consider using alternatives such as "the situation is deteriorating" or "structures are fragmenting".

How to use "things are breaking up" in a sentence?

You can use "things are breaking up" in a sentence like: "After months of tension, it became clear that "things are breaking up" between the team members, and a resolution was needed."