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

“I fell down, just boom, boom, boom,” he said, laughing at himself and flipping up his eye patch to reveal a sprawling bruise.

From Los Angeles Times

Shelby Brown's five-year-old son Riley was injured when he fell down a broken drain cover while trick or treating.

From BBC

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

"When I'm following the path I want to follow, tumbling and falling down doesn't matter," she tells the BBC.

From BBC

Related Words

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