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 falling down, Bath found the back of the net for a one-goal advantage.

From Washington Post

Steger, who had fallen down a tree well, was completely immobilized by the mound of snow.

From Seattle Times

“You want 100 guys falling down the stairs and you want me to make every reaction and fall different. Of course you do. It was like we were just another day at work.”

From New York Times

Mrs Jones, from Moelfre, Anglesey fell down the stairs on 18 August.

From BBC

“After dying so many times and falling down on stage in La Traviata and so on, by the end of a life there is pain everywhere,” she said.

From Washington Post

Related Words

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