take to pieces

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

When he was only twelve years old he was able to take to pieces and reset the family clock and a patent lever watch, using no tool for this purpose but his pocket-knife.

From Great Fortunes, and How They Were Made by McCabe, James Dabney

He who, in an enlightened and literary society, aspires to be a great poet must first become a little child, he must take to pieces the whole web of his mind.

From Critical and Historical Essays — Volume 1 by Macaulay, Thomas Babington Macaulay, Baron

In attempting, therefore, to take to pieces the machinery, there was the risk of destroying it.

From Toilers of the Sea by Hugo, Victor

We admit nothing now without question; we have learnt to take to pieces all motives to actions.

From Is Life Worth Living? by Mallock, W. H. (William Hurrell)

The few books that I have tried to take to pieces and to re-construct are not enough—or at least it would be necessary to deal with them more searchingly.

From The Craft of Fiction by Lubbock, Percy