fall to pieces

fall to pieces (third-person singular simple present falls to pieces, present participle falling to pieces, simple past and past participle fell to pieces)

1. To break into a number of segments; to collapse.

   The covers of the old book fell to pieces when I picked it up.

2. (figuratively) To be emotionally devastated; to break down.

   When I found out my mother had passed away that night, I fell to pieces.