totally collapse

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "totally collapse" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a complete failure or breakdown of a system, structure, or situation. Example: "After the financial crisis, the company began to totally collapse under the weight of its debts."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

11 human-written examples

When did the ecosystems totally collapse?

Independent

You go to war, services totally collapse.

The New Yorker

You want them to soften but not totally collapse.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

"Or cook it as you would oats for a porridge, so that the grains totally collapse.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

It makes sense to try to find some circuit breakers so the housing market doesn't totally collapse.

The New York Times

The hotel was left burning fiercely all along its facade with fears that it could totally collapse.

The Guardian

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

48 human-written examples

They were totally collapsed".

The New York Times

I totally collapsed.

The Guardian

This highlights that the rule of law in Venezuela has totally collapsed.

The New York Times

"Now it looks like a house of cards that has totally collapsed".

The New York Times

Distance has totally collapsed, and the twin towers are the ultimate metaphor for that collapse.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "totally collapse", ensure that the context clearly indicates a complete and irreversible breakdown, not just a partial failure. Consider alternatives if the situation allows for recovery or is not entirely destroyed.

Common error

Avoid using "totally collapse" when a situation is merely unstable or facing difficulties. Reserve it for scenarios where the breakdown is absolute and irreparable. For example, instead of saying "The project totally collapsed" when it faced minor setbacks, use "The project encountered significant challenges".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "totally collapse" functions as a verb phrase, where "totally" intensifies the meaning of "collapse". It describes a complete and irreversible failure. Ludwig AI confirms this is correct.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

54%

Science

32%

Formal & Business

8%

Less common in

Wiki

6%

Reference

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "totally collapse" is a common phrase used to describe the complete failure or breakdown of something. It is grammatically correct, as validated by Ludwig AI, and appears frequently in news, scientific, and formal business contexts. While "totally collapse" is suitable for many situations, being mindful of context and opting for more formal synonyms like "completely break down" or "utterly fail" in highly formal settings can enhance precision. Avoid overusing "totally collapse" in situations where the failure is not absolute to maintain accuracy and impact.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

Completely break down

Replaces "collapse" with "break down", emphasizing a loss of functionality.

Utterly fail

Substitutes both words with synonyms to highlight the complete lack of success.

Fall apart completely

Emphasizes disintegration and a loss of structure.

Give way entirely

Suggests a yielding or breaking under pressure.

Suffer total failure

Replaces "collapse" with a more formal "failure", adding "total" for emphasis.

Be completely ruined

Focuses on the state of being destroyed or irreparable.

Disintegrate entirely

Highlights the process of falling into pieces.

Crumble completely

Implies a gradual breakdown into small fragments.

Be reduced to nothing

Emphasizes the finality and completeness of the collapse.

Cease to exist

Indicates the complete termination or end of something.

FAQs

How can I use "totally collapse" in a sentence?

Use "totally collapse" to describe something that has completely broken down or failed. For example, "The building's roof "totally collapsed" under the weight of the snow."

What are some alternatives to "totally collapse"?

You can use alternatives like "completely break down", "utterly fail", or "fall apart completely" depending on the context.

Is it appropriate to use "totally collapse" in formal writing?

Yes, "totally collapse" is appropriate in formal writing as long as the context calls for a description of complete failure. However, consider more formal synonyms like "suffer total failure" for certain contexts.

What's the difference between "totally collapse" and "partially collapse"?

"Totally collapse" indicates a complete breakdown or failure, while "partially collapse" means that something is damaged but not entirely destroyed. For example, a building might "totally collapse" after an earthquake, or it might only "partially collapse".