fall flat on one's face
The phrase "fall flat on one's face" is often used to describe a complete and embarrassing failure, originating from the literal act of falling forward and hitting one's face on the ground.
Definition
B2General
(figurative, informal)To fail completely in a very noticeable and embarrassing manner.
Example
- His attempt to impress the audience fell flat on his face when he forgot his lines.
- The new product launch fell flat on its face due to technical issues.
B1Physical
(literal)To trip or stumble, causing one's face to hit the ground.
Example
- She fell flat on her face while running to catch the bus.
- The child tripped over a rock and fell flat on his face.
Similar
Terms that have similar or relatively close meanings to "fall flat on one's face":
fall down onbust one's assfall downcome a cropperfall overflat on one's backfall onfall off one's perchfall to the grounddie on one's arsefall throughtake a tumblefall into oneselffall togo belly-upfall upfall offfall togetherfall uponfall on one's swordbelly flopbust assfall foulflake outsink like a stonekeel overfail at lifebreak one's neckbeat one's facebreak one's backfall outflunk outfall intake the fallstick one's foot in itfall for