be coming apart at the seams

be coming apart at the seams

1. To be approaching failure. Boy, this party is really coming apart at the seams. First, there was the issue with the caterer, and now half the guests aren't coming.
2. To become very emotional. Jane was coming apart at the seams even before the funeral service, so I'm not sure that she'll make it through the whole thing.
See also: apart, coming, seam
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.
See also:
  • come apart at the seams
  • come apart at the seams, to
  • come/fall apart at the seams
  • fall apart at the seams
  • go to the dogs
  • gone to pot
  • go to pot
  • be a go
  • fall apart
  • throw a (monkey) wrench in(to) the works
References in periodicals archive
America's health care system seems to be coming apart at the seams. While inflation has hovered between 3 percent and 4 percent in recent years, medical costs have risen at nearly triple that rate.
The Medical Triangle