cave in

Friendly

Sure! Let's break down the phrase "cave in."

Definition:

"Cave in" is a phrasal verb that means to collapse or break down suddenly. It can refer to physical structures, like buildings or roofs, or to situations, like businesses or plans.

Usage Instructions:

You can use "cave in" when talking about something that has fallen apart or failed unexpectedly. It can be used in both literal and metaphorical contexts.

Examples:

1. Literal Usage:

   • "The old roof finally caved in after the heavy snow fell on it."
   • "They had to evacuate the building when the walls started to cave in."

2. Metaphorical Usage:

   • "After months of struggling, the business finally caved in and closed its doors."
   • "He tried to stay strong, but the pressure from his friends eventually made him cave in."

Advanced Usage:

In more complex sentences, "cave in" can express emotional or psychological breakdowns, such as: - "Under the intense scrutiny of the media, the politician began to cave in and change his stance."

Word Variants:

• Cave-in (noun): This is the noun form used to describe the event of collapsing. For example, "The cave-in caused a lot of damage to the building."

Different Meanings:

While "cave in" primarily means to collapse, it can also imply giving in to pressure or persuasion, especially in discussions or arguments.

Synonyms:

• Collapse
• Crumble
• Fall apart
• Break down
• Give way

Idioms and Related Phrasal Verbs:

• Give in: This means to yield or surrender, similar to "cave in" when used metaphorically. For example, "She didn't want to go to the party, but she finally gave in to her friends."
• Break down: This can refer to both physical and emotional breakdowns, similar to "cave in."

Summary:

"Cave in" is a versatile phrasal verb used to describe a sudden collapse or yielding, whether it’s a physical structure or a metaphorical situation.

Academic

Noun

1. the sudden collapse of something into a hollow beneath it

Verb

1. break down, literally or metaphorically
   • The wall collapsed
   • The business collapsed
   • The dam broke
   • The roof collapsed
   • The wall gave in
   • The roof finally gave under the weight of the ice

Synonyms

• subsidence
• collapse
• fall in
• give
• give way
• break
• founder