fall apart at the seams

fall apart at the seams

1. To be approaching failure. Boy, this party is really falling 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, especially with sadness or grief. Poor Jane really fell apart at the seams during the funeral service. I can't watch those sappy movies because I just fall apart at the seams every time.
See also: apart, fall, seam
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.

come/fall apart at the ˈseams

(informal) begin to fail or collapse: The Government’s economic policy is falling apart at the seams. After only six months, their marriage has come apart at the seams.
If a piece of clothing comes apart at the seams, it begins to separate along the lines where the pieces of cloth are sewn together.
See also: apart, come, fall, seam
Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary
See also:
  • be coming apart at the seams
  • come apart at the seams
  • come apart at the seams, to
  • come/fall apart at the seams
  • go to the dogs
  • gone to pot
  • go to pot
  • be a go
  • fall apart
  • throw a wrench into the works
References in periodicals archive
Albion are determined they will not fall apart at the seams and be left to sell their most valuable players if their first ever Premiership season ends in failure.
Football: Batson: Money is available at Albion
Nineteen-year-old Jamie picked student Jody in last week's show, but their planned date to Crete fall apart at the seams when it was discovered Jamie already had a girlfriend.
TONIGHT'S HIGHLIGHTS
Devlin had three more good chances before the break as Bradford threatened to fall apart at the seams.
BETTER LATE THEN TREVOR
After a bright start, our performance against Alan Curbishley's side soon started to fall apart at the seams and in the end we were grateful just to avoid defeat.
Chance lost to close in on fourth; VIEW FROM THE STANDS
I cannot remember the last time I felt so deflated at the end of a meeting as I was on Tuesday after watching the best Derby for some time fall apart at the seams.
Dog Racing: Derby's goes from great to gruelling in one hit; GREYHOUND RATINGS
Once beautiful designs fall apart at the seams Once great designers turn in their graves, Annoyed at the nightmare that's become of their dreams.
You say: Your Poem: ROOF TOP TREES
The 19-year-old had looked to be cruising towards her second Grand Slam final as she tormented the world's best female player to open up a seemingly unbeatable lead in the deciding set only for her game to fall apart at the seams.
Tennis: Clijsters collapse keeps Serena's Slam hopes alive
This New Labour project is beginning to fall apart at the seams, and Prestatyn's own John Prescott, somehow still the deputy prime minister, is hardly helping matters.
Writing is really on the wall Two-Jags