buckles under
Gives way eventually
To buckle under is to yield to pressure or stress, giving way when the burden becomes too great.
The image comes from a physical structure—a beam or knee—that bends and collapses under excessive weight.
She held firm for months but finally buckled under the demands of the job.
The regime buckled under international sanctions.
- crumplesCrushes into wrinkles
- falls apartBreaks into components
- succumbsYields to superior force
- submitsYields to authority
- collapsesSuddenly falls inward
goes to pieces · falters · concedes · breaks down · acquiesces · caves in · capitulates · throws in the towel · folds · relinquishes · gives way · gives up the ghost · defers · cracks · complies · resigns · snaps · yields
emotional/psychological resilience
buckles underkeeps it together
Maintains emotional stability
holds it together · keeps one's cool · copes · rises above · soldiers on