go to pieces

go to pieces 

1. Lit. [for something] to fall apart into many pieces. The vase—which had been repaired many times—just went to pieces when I put it down. When the window was hit by the ball, it went to pieces.

2. Fig. [for something] to become nonfunctional. His plan went to pieces. All her hopes and ideas went to pieces in that one meeting.

3. Fig. [for someone] to have a mental collapse. Poor Jane went to pieces after her divorce. Fred went to pieces during the trial.

See also: piece

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go/fall to pieces 

1. if someone goes to pieces, they become so upset that they are unable to control their feelings or think clearly I kept my composure throughout the funeral, but I went to pieces after everyone had gone home.

2. to suddenly fail completely After winning the British Open last year, his game has really gone to pieces.

See also: piece

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go to pieces also fall to pieces

to lose confidence in yourself and feel you have no control over events After he and Edna divorced, Art went to pieces. His world fell to pieces in 1966 when civil war broke out in Nigeria.

Related vocabulary: fall apart

See also: piece