fall between the cracks

Idioms  

1. Also,. Be neglected or overlooked; also, not fit either of two alternatives. For example, Please make sure that either our department or yours deals with this account, lest it fall between the cracks, or Trying to be both teacher and parent, she fell between two stools. The variant using stools, with its image of a person falling to the ground between two chairs instead of sitting down on one or the other, was already a proverb in ancient times; in English it was first recorded about 1390.

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Example Sentences

They especially tend to fall between the cracks when they’re regional players or in a niche business.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 30, 2026

"Without new laws in place departments will not collaborate to the extent needed, provision will not be available and once again our young people will continue to fall between the cracks."

From BBC • Nov. 7, 2025

Though retailers are expected to abide by Federal Trade Commission laws against deceptive pricing, nuances in state-level policies and enforcement can allow dubious sales activity to fall between the cracks.

From Slate • Mar. 1, 2025

They fall between the cracks in the health care system and end up as one of the 4 million people out of work due to the long-term effects of the disease.

From Salon • Oct. 1, 2022

However, as Europe contends with another heatwave, one group of workers has little choice but to sweat it out: gig-economy food couriers who often fall between the cracks of labour regulations.

From Reuters • Aug. 11, 2022