One sentence is long, and one word is short. Can you say this sentence while breaking it down?
Even though a sentence is long, a word is short. I want you to read this sentence phrase by phrase.
even though A, B / AだけれどもB (AとBは単語ではなく文がは入ります)
break down は 文などの塊を小さい塊に分けるような意味で while breaking down で「文を意味ごとに区切りながら読んでくれませんか」ということが伝わると思います。
phrase by phrase / フレーズごとに