Failure Idioms

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drop the ball

Meaning: To make a mistake or fail to do something you were responsible for.

Example: The manager dropped the ball when he forgot to send the report on time. Read more ➺


kill or cure

Meaning: A drastic remedy or action that will either completely solve a problem or make it much worse.

Example: After months of poor sales, the company adopted a kill or cure strategy that would either save the business or destroy it. Read more ➺


last legs

Meaning: Extremely weak, tired, or about to collapse.

Example: After hiking all day in the heat, Sarah was on her last legs and could barely keep moving. Read more ➺


lost cause

Meaning: A hopeless situation or effort with no chance of success.

Example: The old car was a lost cause, even after endless repairs. Read more ➺


meet one’s Waterloo

Meaning: To experience a decisive and crushing defeat.

Example: After years of winning, the champion finally met his Waterloo in the finals. Read more ➺


end in smoke

Meaning: It means to fail completely after showing initial promise.

Example: The company's big expansion plan to end in smoke when funding fell through. Read more ➺


cut a sorry figure

Meaning: Making a poor or bad impression.

Example: He arrived late and disheveled, cutting a sorry figure at the wedding. Read more ➺


that dog won’t hunt

Meaning: Ineffective: An idea, plan, or method is not going to work or be successful.

Example: That dog won't hunt; we need a more realistic approach to the budget crisis. Read more ➺


fall flat

Meaning: Fail to produce the intended effect or fail to impress the audience.

Example: Her joke fell flat and no one in the room laughed. Read more ➺


many a slip between the cup and the lip

Meaning: Even when success seems near, unexpected events can still prevent it.

Example: The wedding was planned, but the sudden breakup proved there's many a slip between the cup and the lip. Read more ➺


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