crashing

(one's) whole world came crashing down around (one)

One's entire outlook, circumstances, or lifestyle were negatively affected or altered (by some event). When I was rejected by the university that was my top choice, my whole world came crashing down around me. Lena's whole world came crashing down around her when her mom died, and it took a long time for her to find her way again.
See also: around, came, crashing, down, whole, world

bring (something) crashing down (around) (one)

1. Literally, to cause something to fall violently to the ground. (In this usage, "around (one)" is not usually part of the phrase.) On demolition day, a crew will bring that old building crashing down.
2. To cause a distressing failure, especially one that profoundly affects or disrupts one's life or identity. Getting laid off from my job brought everything crashing down around me.
See also: bring, crashing, down

crash around

To make a lot of noise while doing something. Dad woke us all up when he came home late and promptly crashed around the dark living room. You can always count on Patty to crash around in the kitchen while she's cooking. Pots and pans have never sounded louder!
See also: around, crash

crash down

1. Literally, to fall down or collapse, often noisily. When the tree crashed down in the woods, it woke us all up.
2. By extension, to result in disaster or lose all stability amidst drastic problems. When I lied on my resume to get my dream job, I really hoped it wouldn't all come crashing down around me—but, of course, it did. I've felt like my life is crashing down around me ever since my husband's sudden death.
See also: crash, down

crash out

To escape from some place. That criminal did crash out, but he was caught only a mile from the prison.
See also: crash, out

crash through (something)

To physically break through some thing or barrier, often violently. The driver crashed through the guardrail and ended up in oncoming traffic.
See also: crash, through

crash to the floor

To fall to the floor, usually noisily. The picture frame fell off the wall and crashed to the floor.
See also: crash, floor

crash together

Of two or more things, to strike each other violently or noisily. A noun or pronoun can be used between "crash" and "together." Our cars crashed together in the middle of the intersection when the other driver ran a red light. My job in the percussion section of the marching band is to crash the symbols together.
See also: crash, together
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.

bring something crashing down (around one)

 
1. Lit. to cause a structure to collapse and fall (on oneself). He hit the tent pole and brought the tent crashing down. When she removed the last vertical board, she brought the shed crashing down around her.
2. Fig. to destroy something, such as one's life and well-being, that one has a special interest in; to cause someone's basic orientation to collapse. She brought her whole life crashing down around her.
See also: bring, crashing, down

crash around

to move around in a noisy way Stop crashing around. I'm trying to study. The people upstairs were crashing around and I couldn't get any sleep.
See also: around, crash

crash down

 (around someone or something) and crash down (about someone or something)
1. and crash in (on someone or something) Lit. [for something] to collapse on someone or something. The walls crashed in around the burning house. The branches of the tree crashed down on the roof. The old barn crashed down.
2. Fig. [for the structure and stability of one's life] to fall apart. Her whole life crashed down around her. Everything he was familiar with crashed down about him.
See also: crash, down

crash out (of some place)

to break out of some place, such as a prison. Max and Lefty crashed out of the state prison last week, but they were captured. They crashed out at midnight.
See also: crash, out

crash something together

to bring things together with great force, making a loud noise. Fred crashed the cymbals together and the sound could have wakened the dead. Don't crash those pans together. It drives me crazy.
See also: crash, together

crash to the floor

to fall onto the floor and make a crashing sound. The tray of dishes crashed to the floor. Everything crashed to the floor and was broken.
See also: crash, floor

crash together

to ram or move together with great force. The two cars crashed together, making a loud noise. The ships crashed together, opening a gaping hole in the side of one of them.
See also: crash, together
McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs.
See also:
  • (one's) whole world came crashing down around (one)
  • (one's) whole world was turned upside down
  • upside
  • miss one's guess, to
  • junk in the trunk
  • I came, I saw, I conquered
  • not hold (one's) liquor
  • trim (one's) sails
  • trim one's sails
  • trim your sails
References in periodicals archive
By crashing the plane, the programme also aims to answer key questions, such as whether sitting at the front or the rear of the aircraft, wearing a seat belt and whether you use the brace position, can make the difference between life and death.
On a wing and prayer; MUST SEE TV! TOP PICK; Documentary examines the impact of an aircraft falling out of the sky
"It's a bit like crashing a Wall Street banker into a wall, but the upside is that you can do it over and over with little downtime," jokes Flachsmann.
Cutting the cable: integrated electronics turn regular dummies into iDummies
The crash was highly unusual because the Boeing 737-300, operated by Helios Airways on a Larnaca-Prague flight, flew on autopilot for two hours, its pilots slumped over the controls, before crashing into a Greek hillside when it ran out of fuel.
Travel Safety Update
The Institute has been evaluating crashworthiness since 1995 based on crashing vehicles into a barrier at an angle, rather than head-on as called for by National Highway Traffic Safety Administration tests, on the theory the offset test better replicates real-world conditions.
INSTITUTE FOR HIGHWAY SAFETY SAYS TESTS CONFIRM SAFETY RATINGS
We know they're almost the worst thing that can happen to us on the average day, and yet, at the same time, we find the idea of crashing cars very, very exciting.
Body work