ride for a fall

Idioms  

1. Court danger or disaster, as in I think that anyone who backs the incumbent is riding for a fall. This idiom alludes to the reckless rider who risks a bad spill. [Late 1800s]

---

Example Sentences

If a horse should at any time run away with you, keep your seat whilst you can do so, and whilst you have anything of a fair road before you; but if there is any danger of your being thrown or losing your seat whilst your foot is caught, then by all means ride for a fall; put your horse at something that will bring him down, and when he is down struggle on to his head, that he may not rise until somebody has come to your assistance.

From Project Gutenberg

The jockeys ride high on the horses' shoulders and they ride for a fall.

From Project Gutenberg

On the whole, we come to the conclusion that, much as we regret many plain mistakes of detail, in the main it is best that the bold course was taken, We rode boldly, and, in the last months, we had to ride for a fall.

From Project Gutenberg

"My experience is," observed Captain Heseltine, looking up from the Stud Book, "that chaps who ride for a fall come more unholy crumplers than anybody else."

From Project Gutenberg