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

Nice weather, though; fall is beautiful, the leaves fall down here, like, right off the trees.

From Los Angeles Times

He joked about how he’d probably fall down if he attempted his look-to-the-heavens windup when throwing out the ceremonial first pitch opening day.

From Los Angeles Times

A tornado has swept through a Hampshire town, causing damage to properties and trees to fall down.

From BBC

The defendant accepted in doing this his leg made contact with his partner's waist causing her to fall down the stairs, but denied his action was deliberate.

From BBC

In such historic times when the ground is moving beneath our feet, sometimes slowly and almost imperceptibly, and at other times with great crashes where we feel like we are going to fall down, there are going to be great surprises ahead – both good and bad – that in hindsight will look utterly predictable.

From Salon

Related Words

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