in pieces
in pieces — idiom
1. as several separate parts that are not joined together, often so that you must p
as several separate parts that are not joined together, often so that you must put them together yourself.
The new bookshelf from Rafael's shop arrived in pieces inside one flat box.
arrive in pieces = comes unassembled
This camping tent comes in pieces, so you join the poles before the trip.
come in pieces + you assemble it
Sumin bought a model plane that was still in pieces in the package.
The old wooden bed lay in pieces on the floor, ready to carry upstairs.
- in parts
neutral; stresses that the whole is divided into sections
- unassembled
more formal; common in shop and packaging language
- assembled
used when the parts have already been joined
- in one piece
used when something is whole and undivided
文法句型
arrive in pieces
come in pieces
be in pieces
用法筆記
Often pairs with verbs of delivery or supply (arrive, come, be sold). Distinguish from sense 2: here the parts are meant to be joined, not the result of breaking something.
常見錯誤
Incorrect: 'The shelf arrived in piece.' Correct: 'The shelf arrived in pieces.' — the phrase is always plural.
2. broken into many small parts after being dropped, hit, or smashed.
broken into many small parts after being dropped, hit, or smashed.
Tamás dropped the teapot, and it lay in pieces on the kitchen tiles.
lie in pieces after dropping
The storm left every window of the old barn in pieces.
leave + something + in pieces
Emre found his sunglasses in pieces after sitting on them by mistake.
The glass vase fell from the shelf and shattered in pieces across the room.
- intact
used when nothing is broken or damaged
- in one piece
used when an object survives without breaking
文法句型
lie in pieces
smash + something + to/into pieces
be in pieces on the floor
用法筆記
Subject is usually a fragile object (glass, pottery, a phone screen). Distinguish from sense 1: the parts here are the result of damage, not a design for assembly.
常見錯誤
Incorrect: 'The plate broke in piece.' Correct: 'The plate broke into pieces.' — use plural, and 'into' with a breaking verb.
3. completely ruined or destroyed, used about a plan, career, hope, or relationship
completely ruined or destroyed, used about a plan, career, hope, or relationship rather than a physical object.
After the failed merger, the company's growth plan was in pieces.
plan in pieces = ruined
One bad season left Nicholas's coaching career in pieces.
leave + career + in pieces
By the time the trial ended, Diya's reputation lay in pieces.
Their long friendship was in pieces after the argument over money.
文法句型
be in pieces
lie in pieces
leave + something + in pieces
用法筆記
Subject is an abstract goal or bond (plan, hope, marriage, career), not a physical thing. Distinguish from sense 2, which describes a real object that has broken apart.
常見錯誤
Incorrect: 'His plan was in pieces of failure.' Correct: 'His plan was in pieces after the failure.' — do not add 'of'; name the cause with 'after'.
4. so deeply upset or shocked that you cannot stay calm or think clearly.
so deeply upset or shocked that you cannot stay calm or think clearly.
Sari was in pieces when she heard that her grandmother had died.
person in pieces = very upset
The sad ending of the film left half the audience in pieces.
leave + someone + in pieces
By the end of the long custody hearing, Amira was in pieces.
Asher came back from the hospital in pieces and could barely speak.
- devastated
stronger and more formal; deep grief or shock
- distraught
formal; stresses being too upset to act normally
文法句型
be in pieces
leave + someone + in pieces
用法筆記
Subject is always a person, and the feeling is grief, shock, or distress, not mild annoyance. Distinguish from sense 3, where the subject is a plan or relationship, not a person's emotions.
常見錯誤
Incorrect: 'The news made me in pieces.' Correct: 'The news left me in pieces.' — use 'leave someone in pieces', not 'make'.
5. as a series of small amounts spread over time, rather than all together at one m
as a series of small amounts spread over time, rather than all together at one moment.
Élise paid back the loan in pieces over almost three years.
pay in pieces = bit by bit
News of the disaster reached the village in pieces throughout the night.
information arriving in pieces
Chiara learned the family story in pieces, one detail at each visit.
The grant money came in pieces, so the school could plan only one room at a time.
- bit by bit
everyday phrase; stresses slow, gradual delivery
- in instalments
mainly for money paid in fixed regular amounts
- all at once
used when everything arrives at a single time
- in full
used for paying or giving the whole amount together
文法句型
come in pieces
pay + something + in pieces
arrive in pieces over time
用法筆記
Often paired with a time phrase (over the year, throughout the night) to stress the gradual delivery. Distinguish from sense 1, which describes parts of one object, not amounts spread across time.
常見錯誤
Incorrect: 'She paid it by pieces.' Correct: 'She paid it in pieces.' — the fixed phrase uses 'in', not 'by'.