What does break down mean?

[Yolana]

English Language Tests, Intermediate level

ESL/EFL Test #148 "Idioms with the phrasal verb break", question 8

Teachers in Sydney have decided to call a snap strike next week after negotiations with the State Government over a ten per cent pay increase ......... early this morning.

(a) broke into
(b) broke down
(c) broke open
(d) broke up

English Language Tests, Intermediate level

ESL/EFL Test #148 "Idioms with the phrasal verb break", answer 8

Teachers in Sydney have decided to call a snap strike next week after negotiations with the State Government over a ten per cent pay increase broke down early this morning.

Correct answer: (b) broke down
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Why do you use break for this message?

Yolana

[Mister Micawber]

.
The idiomatic phrasal verb is break down = collapse; destroy; cease to be useful, effective, or operable.
.
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Native English teacher at Mister Micawber's

[Lost_Soul]

[Diverhank]

With a plural noun (with "s"), "the" is left out since it's not necessary and is clumsy.

[Alan]

Hi lost_soul,

The point is that negotiations here are general. The article 'the' is used before 'State Government', which is where the specfic idea come in. You could say: I am having/I had discussions with the manager about my salary.

Alan
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English as a Second Language
You can read my ESL story Prepositions

[Shafqat]

Dear Alan,
What does mean snap strike?

Regards
Khan