She is really broke up about your cousin dying

[Baubau]

English Language Tests, Intermediate level

ESL/EFL Test #438 "English Slang Idioms (177)", question 8

"Can you please call your sister? She is really broke ......... about your cousin dying. I think she needs to talk to someone that cares," her mom told her.

(a) away
(b) up
(c) down
(d) apart

English Language Tests, Intermediate level

ESL/EFL Test #438 "English Slang Idioms (177)", answer 8

"Can you please call your sister? She is really broke up about your cousin dying. I think she needs to talk to someone that cares," her mom told her.

Correct answer: (b) up

Your answer was: incorrect
"Can you please call your sister? She is really broke down about your cousin dying. I think she needs to talk to someone that cares," her mom told her.
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break up = suffer a nervous breakdown
Is this the correct meaning in this case?
And wouldn't "broken up" be the correct form?
Thanks.

[Mister Micawber]

I agree that the form should be 'broken'-- we will fix that, thank you. As far as meaning is concerned: in informal English 'to be broken up' simply means 'to be emotionally upset', much as we call someone 'crazy' when s/he is not actually insane.
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Native English teacher at Mister Micawber's