machines, cars, phones etc that do not work► is not working/doesn't work if a machine or piece of equipment is not working or doesn't work , it does not do the job it is supposed to do: · The phone's not working.· Our car isn't working at the moment, so I've been taking the bus.· The elevator doesn't seem to be working - let's take the stairs.· The headlights don't work and the brakes need fixing.· This camera doesn't work - I'll have to take it back to the store.
► there's something wrong with if there is something wrong with a machine, car etc, it does not work properly, but you do not know exactly why: · There's something wrong with my car: I think it might be the battery.· There was something wrong with the photocopier, so we called in the service company.have something wrong with something: · If the VCR has something wrong with it, take it back to the store.
► broken not working - use this especially about a small machine or a small piece of equipment: · "What's the time?" "I don't know, my watch is broken."· I think the doorbell must be broken - I didn't hear anything.· a broken dishwasher
► be out of order if a machine, especially one used by the public, is out of order it is not working for a temporary period: · Every phone I tried was out of order.· The toilets are almost always out of order.
► be out of action especially British if a vehicle or machine is out of action , it cannot be used at the moment because it is broken: · Three of our tanks are out of action.· These planes may be out of action for a week, just for regular maintenance.· Our washing machine's out of action at the moment, so we use the laundry down the road.
► be down if a computer system is down , it is not working: · The computer system was down all afternoon so we went home.go down (=stop working): · The network went down at 11:00 and we lost the whole morning's work.
► be on the blink informal also be on the fritz American informal if a piece of electrical equipment such as a television or washing machine is on the blink or on the fritz , it sometimes works and sometimes does not: · My TV's on the blink again.go on the blink/fritz: · The car's air conditioning went on the fritz just as we reached Dallas.
► temperamental informal a machine, car etc that is temperamental works some of the time but not all the time: · Jo's car is very temperamental in the mornings. Sometimes it starts and sometimes it doesn't.· The only heating was from a temperamental iron stove in the centre of each hut.
► has gone British is gone American if you say that part of a machine, especially a car, has gone or is gone , you mean that it has stopped working properly: · I'm not sure what's wrong with my car - I think the clutch has gone.· If the gearbox is gone it'll cost you a fortune.· "What's that noise?" "It sounds like the suspension's going."
► has had it if you say that a machine has had it you mean that it is completely broken and cannot be repaired: · I'm afraid the stereo's had it.
► bust British busted especially American broken or badly damaged: · Our television's bust, and so's the radio.· There's no point in trying to mend it, it's completely bust.· You can't record anything - the VCR's busted.· a busted air-conditioner
1likely to suddenly become upset, excited, or angry – used to show disapproval: 
Preston is particularly good at handling temperamental people.2a machine, system etc that is temperamental does not always work properly: