come apart at the seams

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

The defense had come apart at the seams, losing its way over the final weeks of last season.

From Los Angeles Times • Dec. 30, 2022

By that point in the special, a year has passed, and we've watched him come apart at the seams, like so many of us have.

From Salon • Jun. 16, 2021

He added: "It's all come apart at the seams, this 'put-up job of a defence'."

From BBC • Mar. 9, 2018

A few feet away, Dasani’s legally blind, 10-year-old sister, Nijai, sleeps on a mattress that has come apart at the seams, its rusted coils splayed.

From New York Times • Dec. 9, 2013

Aunty Ifeka went back to her stirring, and Olanna’s image of their marriage began to come apart at the seams.

From "Half of a Yellow Sun" by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie