But he wasn't the only one who appeared worn out, close to collapse.

Of that there was no doubt, the organs of his body close to collapse.

Negotiations on the conference committee had been reported close to collapse since early in the talks last month.

Pioline, who turns 29 on June 15, seemed close to collapse.

It subsequently had a chequered history, twice coming close to collapse during the 19th century.

But the project came close to collapse from 1994 to 1996.

Noyes looked more tense than ever, almost close to collapse.

He looked close to collapse, but Marie felt no pity for him.

She spent days in her chamber weeping, close to nervous collapse.

There were times, participants say, when the whole enterprise came close to collapse.