Wife upset pet and broke down (4)
I believe the answer is:
wept
'broke down' is the definition.
(I've seen this in another clue)
'wife upset pet' is the wordplay.
'wife' becomes 'w' (abbreviation).
'upset' is an anagram indicator.
'pet' anagrammed gives 'ept'.
'w'+'ept'='WEPT'
'and' is the link.
(Other definitions for wept that I've seen before include "Sobbed heavily" , "lamented" , "Cried, sobbed" , "Was unhappy" , ""Jesus __" (shortest verse in the King James Bible)" .)