fall down

British  

verb

1. to drop suddenly or collapse

2. informal  (often foll by on) to prove unsuccessful; fail

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fall down Idioms  

1. Fail to meet expectations; lag in performance. For example, It was disappointing to see him fall down on the job. This expression transfers a literal drop to a figurative one. [Second half of 1800s]

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Example Sentences

While employers are legally required to maintain benefit records, especially for pension and employer-sponsored life insurance, they too can fall down on the job.

From MarketWatch

During the first robot half marathon in Beijing this year, many mechanical competitors fell down and overheated and only six out of 21 completed the course.

From Los Angeles Times

He started working in the fields when he was 11 years old and has injured his ankles and knees after falling down at work.

From Los Angeles Times

It tells the tale of a girl named Alice who falls down a rabbit hole and lands in a fantasy world of talking animals and creatures.

From BBC

Rehearsing one dance routine, they were scolded for their lack of synchronisation: "It's got to sound like one person walking down the stairs. It can't sound like a group of people falling down the stairs."

From BBC

Related Words

• bumble
• careen
• fall
• falter
• flounder
• hesitate
• limp
• lumber
• lurch
• shuffle
• swing
• waver
• wobble