in pieces
in pieces — 慣用語
1. as several separate parts that are not joined together, often so that you must p
未組裝
以分開的零件形式，尚未拼裝成一體
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.
Rafael 店裡的新書架以分開的零件裝在一個扁平的箱子裡送來。
arrive in pieces = comes unassembled
This camping tent comes in pieces, so you join the poles before the trip.
這頂露營帳篷是零件分開的，出發前要先把支架接起來。
come in pieces + you assemble it
Sumin bought a model plane that was still in pieces in the package.
Sumin 買的模型飛機在包裝裡還是一片片散著、尚未組裝。
be in pieces = not yet built
The old wooden bed lay in pieces on the floor, ready to carry upstairs.
那張舊木床拆成一塊塊躺在地上，準備搬上樓。
object kept as separate parts
- arrive in pieces
- come in pieces
- sold in pieces
- 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.
破碎
因摔、撞或砸而碎成許多小塊
broken into many small parts after being dropped, hit, or smashed.
Tamás dropped the teapot, and it lay in pieces on the kitchen tiles.
Tamás 摔了茶壺，它就碎了一地，散落在廚房地磚上。
lie in pieces after dropping
The storm left every window of the old barn in pieces.
那場暴風雨把舊穀倉的每一扇窗都打得粉碎。
leave + something + in pieces
Emre found his sunglasses in pieces after sitting on them by mistake.
Emre 不小心坐到自己的太陽眼鏡，發現它已經碎了。
be in pieces = smashed
The glass vase fell from the shelf and shattered in pieces across the room.
那只玻璃花瓶從架子上掉下來，碎片散了一整個房間。
shatter in pieces
- lie in pieces
- smash to pieces
- in pieces on the floor
- 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
毀於一旦
計畫、事業或關係徹底破滅、瓦解
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.
合併失敗後，這家公司的成長計畫全毀了。
plan in pieces = ruined
One bad season left Nicholas's coaching career in pieces.
一個糟糕的賽季就讓 Nicholas 的教練生涯毀於一旦。
leave + career + in pieces
By the time the trial ended, Diya's reputation lay in pieces.
等到審判結束時，Diya 的名譽已經徹底毀了。
lie in pieces = destroyed (abstract)
Their long friendship was in pieces after the argument over money.
為了錢起了爭執之後，他們多年的友誼也徹底破裂了。
relationship in pieces
- plan in pieces
- career in pieces
- leave a relationship in pieces
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.
崩潰；難過
難過或震驚到無法保持冷靜、無法思考
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.
Sari 聽到祖母過世的消息時整個人崩潰了。
person in pieces = very upset
The sad ending of the film left half the audience in pieces.
那部電影悲傷的結局讓一半的觀眾哭到不能自已。
leave + someone + in pieces
By the end of the long custody hearing, Amira was in pieces.
漫長的監護權聽證會結束時，Amira 已經情緒崩潰。
be in pieces after a hard event
Asher came back from the hospital in pieces and could barely speak.
Asher 從醫院回來時傷心欲絕，幾乎說不出話。
in pieces = unable to stay calm
- be in pieces
- leave someone in pieces
- in pieces over the news
- 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
分批；零星
分成許多小份、隨時間陸續到來
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.
Élise 花了將近三年才分批把貸款還清。
pay in pieces = bit by bit
News of the disaster reached the village in pieces throughout the night.
災難的消息整夜零星地傳到村裡。
information arriving in pieces
Chiara learned the family story in pieces, one detail at each visit.
Chiara 是一點一點地拼湊出這個家族故事，每次拜訪才聽到一個細節。
learn in pieces over many visits
The grant money came in pieces, so the school could plan only one room at a time.
補助款是分批撥下來的，所以學校一次只能規劃一間教室。
money arriving in pieces, not at once
- come in pieces
- pay in pieces
- arrive in pieces over 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'.