Collapse meaning in English
Learn how to use Collapse correctly with Gymglish.
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Definition
a collapse: a crash, a fall, a slump, a downfall
Many people lost their jobs due to the collapse of the mining industry.
to collapse: to crash, to fall, to fail
After not sleeping for twenty-four hours, Susie was so tired that she collapsed into bed.
Examples
- "The collapse of the dollar is key."
- "The speed of the collapse of the dollar is key."
- "As you know, most of the ceiling collapsed due to the excessive water build-up."
- "Still, with the recent economic downturn following the collapse of numerous dot coms and start-ups in Silicon Valley, San Francisco has had to look elsewhere for a boost."
Exercise 1
Select the TRUE statement(s)!
This man (Bill) has called Bruno:
This man (Bill) has called Bruno:
Select the TRUE statement(s)!
This man (Bill) has called Bruno:
This man (Bill) has called Bruno:
This is the only true statement here. Bill wants Bruno to "buy 200 shares" in "a small company listed on NASDAQ", because they are soon to increase in value. "Shares" are a company's "stock": it is possible to buy them as a financial investment. Bill tells Bruno that he is "a stockbroker for Potty and Pilchard Ltd". "Stockbrokers" are agents involved in the buying and selling of stocks and shares on the financial markets.
This statement is false. A "market collapse" is when stocks or shares lose a lot of their value very quickly. Bill does have inside information for Bruno, but it is not related to problems on the financial market. Something which is "upcoming" is going to happen in the near future.
This is a false statement. Bill denies that this activity is illegal: "having the right connections isn't (illegal)".
This is not true. "Wake-up calls" are a service offered by many hotels: a guest can request a telephone call from a member of staff at a certain time, and this call acts as an alarm. Although Bill wakes Bruno up, this is not the purpose of his call.
Exercise 2
Select the correct definition for the following expressions.
"Now they are snapping up homes." ---> Now they are .
"British buyers come in all shapes and sizes." ---> British buyers .
"The collapse of the dollar." ---> This means that the dollar has .
"British home buyers seem to have set their sights on the USA." ---> This means that British home buyers have .
"Now they are snapping up homes." ---> Now they are .
"British buyers come in all shapes and sizes." ---> British buyers .
"The collapse of the dollar." ---> This means that the dollar has .
"British home buyers seem to have set their sights on the USA." ---> This means that British home buyers have .
Select the correct definition for the following expressions.
"Now they are snapping up homes." ---> Now they are buying homes as soon as they become available 1.
"British buyers come in all shapes and sizes." ---> British buyers include many different types of people 2.
"The collapse of the dollar." ---> This means that the dollar has crashed 3.
"British home buyers seem to have set their sights on the USA." ---> This means that British home buyers have chosen the USA as a new target 4.
"Now they are snapping up homes." ---> Now they are buying homes as soon as they become available 1.
"British buyers come in all shapes and sizes." ---> British buyers include many different types of people 2.
"The collapse of the dollar." ---> This means that the dollar has crashed 3.
"British home buyers seem to have set their sights on the USA." ---> This means that British home buyers have chosen the USA as a new target 4.
1 buying homes as soon as they become available: This is the correct answer. The phrasal verb "to snap up (a book)" means to buy it as soon as it becomes available, or to "hurry" or "rush" to buy it. For example: As soon as the tickets for the Rajohead concert went on sale, I snapped one up. We read in the article that the British "are snapping up homes" meaning they are in a rush to buy homes as soon as they go on the market.
1 selling their homes easily: This is incorrect. The phrasal verb "to snap up (a house)" implies buying it, not selling it. The article is suggesting that British people are buying houses in the US: it does not mention the fact that they can sell their homes easily.
1 taking photos of homes using their new camera phones: This is incorrect. "To take a snap" is to take a photo, however this does not share the same meaning with "to snap up". The article is suggesting that British people are buying houses in the US: it makes no mention as to whether British people are taking pictures with camera phones!
1 moving in to homes: This is incorrect. The phrasal verb "to snap up (a house) is not synonymous with 'to move in (to a house)" which indicates a relocation to a place such as a new house or apartment. Examples: I'm moving in to my new flat next week. Will you help me carry the furniture?
2 include many different types of people: This is the best choice here. The expression "(to come) in all shapes and sizes" describes being comprised of various types of people and things. In the article we read that "British buyers come in all shapes and sizes" meaning that many different types of British people are coming to buy property in the US.
2 drink warm beer and eat like pigs: While this sentence is true, I'm afraid it doesn't accurately describe the correct meaning of the expression "in all shapes and sizes". Good guess though, in the future try going to Britain and preparing yourself for the culinary delights you'll find there.
2 come in large numbers: This is incorrect. The expression "(to come) in all shapes and sizes" has nothing to do with coming in large numbers. The article is suggesting that there are many different types of British buyers.
2 are looking for various types of property: This is incorrect. The expression "(British buyers come) in all shapes and sizes" does not mean that they are looking for various types of property. The article is suggesting that there are many different types of British buyers.
3 crashed: "Crashed" is the best choice here. If a currency (the Pound, the Yen, the Dollar, etc.) "collapses", then it "crashes" or loses value very quickly. A couple more examples: "The collapse of our currency has caused many more economic problems". "When the Yen collapsed, the Japanese Prime Minister resigned from his post".
3 risen in value: This is not the right answer. To "rise in value" is the opposite of "to collapse", when we are talking about a currency.
3 ceased to exist: This is not the right answer. If a currency "collapses", it loses a lot of value quickly. This does not necessarily mean that it "ends" or "ceases to exist".
4 chosen the USA as a new target: This is the best choice. To "set your sights on something" is to select it as a target, goal, or aim. In the article, we learn that British home buyers have chosen the USA as their new property destination. Another example: "Edward has set his sights on a promotion before the end of the year".
4 all moved to the USA: This is not the right answer. To "move to" a place is to go to live there. This does not mean the same thing as "to set one's sights on" something.
4 got bored of the USA: This is not the right answer. To "get bored of something" is to lose interest in it. This does not mean the same thing as "to set one's sights on" something.
4 a better understanding of the USA: This is not the right answer. "To set one's sights on something" does not mean to "understand" or "comprehend" something well.
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