break something down

break something down
break something down
1. Lit. to tear something down; to destroy something. •

They used an ax to break the door down.

We broke down the wall with big hammers.

2. Fig. to destroy a social or legal barrier. •

The court broke a number of legal barriers down this week.

They had to break down many social prejudices to manage to succeed.


Dictionary of American idioms. 2013.

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