fall down

verb

1. to drop suddenly or collapse

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

Idioms and Phrases

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]

Example Sentences

And this is where the film falls down on its promise the most.

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But another policymaker said earlier this month there was a growing risk that the U.K. might be heading for a recession should inflation fall down to target.

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He’s the doctor, after all, a master at making things work, “and I’ll keep taking money until I fall down.”

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They’re “trying to make the buildings as weak as they can without falling down,” Jones said.

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In 2018, while returning from a holiday, Tina fell down a flight of stairs and was in a coma for six weeks.

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Related Words

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