Break down in tears
- Thread starter namlan
- Start date
Yes.
You are exactly right, but I have to pad this to at least 10 words. ;-)
You are exactly right, but I have to pad this to at least 10 words. ;-)
Well, actually, there is a difference (albeit slight). "Burst into tears" is usually a sudden outburst. One minute, she's fine and the next minute, she's gushing tears. That's why we use the word "burst". "Broke down in tears" doesn't necessarily mean that sudden burst. She may have started with a little trickle and it may have slowly increased and suddenly, she can't speak because she's crying so hard. She did not "burst" into tears but wound up "breaking down" anyway.
"Cry one's eyes out" would be the same as "bawling".
"Cry one's eyes out" would be the same as "bawling".
Sorry, but I disagree (see my first post). If I "burst into tears", it's not the same as "breaking down in tears". The end result in both cases is tears but how I got there is the difference.
Hi,
Is it also right to view "broke down in tears" in question as "lost control over herself and began crying?" Thanks.
Is it also right to view "broke down in tears" in question as "lost control over herself and began crying?" Thanks.
It depends on what you mean by "lost control over herself". Many people would not consider crying a loss of control, per se.
Thanks, Dimcl.
I want to make sure if "broke down" amounts to "lost control." From your reply, it doesn't mean so. Then what should I interpret it as?
I want to make sure if "broke down" amounts to "lost control." From your reply, it doesn't mean so. Then what should I interpret it as?
To "break down" is to be so overwhelmed by emotion as to have no control, to be unable to do anything else.- After her divorce with her husband, she broke down in tears.
- Is "break down in tears" considered the same meaning as "burst into tears" and "cry one's eyes out"?
Thanks a lot!
NamLan
When a car breaks down it does not work, it does not do what it was meant to do, it does not go anywhere.
"Burst into tears" is something we might do when upset by an unkind word or sudden shock. It does not have the same degree of devastation as "break down".
"Cry one's eyes out could mean breaking down but it could also be a response to a sad film or story, which again would not carry the same degree of devastation.
Also, the context provided does not fit with the act of crying in any of the three ways described.
A divorce is a long term process and "after" is a non-finite time. These descriptions of crying are all short term/finite.
A long term/non-finite expression would be:
After her divorce she found herself crying all the time.
Alternatively, you could redefine the time period to match the expression:
The day her husband left she broke down in tears.
Note: After her divorce
It is redundant to state "her husband" because we have already identified the subject as female ("her") and the verb (divorce) identifies the relationship as a marriage. A wife is usually assumed to be married to a husband unless otherwise stated.