cave in
B2Informal to Neutral
Definition
Meaning
to collapse inward; to suddenly yield to pressure or persuasion after previously resisting.
The phrase describes both a physical collapse (like a roof or wall) and a metaphorical surrender (like giving in to demands or pressure).
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
As a phrasal verb, it is intransitive when meaning 'collapse' (The roof caved in). It can be transitive when meaning 'cause to collapse' (The explosion caved the roof in). The metaphorical meaning is always intransitive.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Usage is virtually identical in both varieties. The physical collapse meaning might be slightly more common in reporting in the US due to tornado/storm coverage.
Connotations
Metaphorical use can carry a slight negative connotation of weakness or failure to hold one's position.
Frequency
Equally common in both dialects.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
[Subject] caved in.[Subject] caved in under [pressure/weight].[Subject] caved [Object] in.Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “The walls came caving in (metaphor for everything failing at once).”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
The board finally caved in to shareholder demands for a leadership change.
Academic
The archaeological dig was halted when the ancient tunnel threatened to cave in.
Everyday
I was on a diet, but I caved in and had a huge slice of cake.
Technical
Engineers reinforced the structure to prevent it from caving in under the load.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- The old mine shaft could cave in at any moment.
- After hours of bargaining, the union caved in.
American English
- The ceiling caved in from the weight of the snow.
- He caved in and let the kids stay up late.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- The sandcastle caved in when the wave hit it.
- The roof caved in because of the heavy rain.
- Don't cave in to their unreasonable demands.
- The government caved in to public pressure and cancelled the policy.
- They had to evacuate the building when the floor began to cave in.
- The prosecution's case began to cave in under the weight of contradictory evidence.
- His resolve caved in after witnessing the emotional appeal.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine a CAVE whose roof falls IN. If you are pressured, your mental 'roof' caves IN.
Conceptual Metaphor
RESISTANCE IS A PHYSICAL STRUCTURE; SURRENDER IS STRUCTURAL COLLAPSE.
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Do not translate literally as 'пещера внутри'. The correct conceptual equivalent is 'сдаваться', 'уступать', or 'обрушиваться'.
Common Mistakes
- Using it transitively incorrectly for the metaphorical meaning (e.g., 'They caved in him'). The object is the thing collapsed, not the person persuaded.
Practice
Quiz
In which sentence is 'cave in' used metaphorically?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
It is neutral but more common in informal and journalistic contexts. In very formal writing, synonyms like 'capitulate' or 'collapse' might be preferred.
Yes, but only for the physical meaning. You can 'cave a roof in' (cause it to collapse). You cannot 'cave someone in' to mean persuade them.
They are often interchangeable metaphorically, but 'cave in' implies a more sudden or complete surrender after stronger resistance. 'Give in' can be for smaller things.
Yes, when used as a noun (e.g., 'The cave-in trapped three miners'), it is typically hyphenated.