"This is a very old building, and the whole thing could collapse," the official said.
It would be bad if the whole thing collapsed and we had to begin all over again; besides, someone might get hurt.
"Of course, when they leave, the whole thing will collapse."
It was only a matter of time before the whole thing collapsed.
"But if the bottom falls out, the whole thing can collapse."
"I stopped letting him go there because the whole thing might collapse," he said.
And the thing collapsed just as Chris came through the door.
Willis, or the thing within him, was collapsing at last.
Before, if things collapsed, at least there was air to breathe.
Many things that you have always depended on will collapse.