[fall through] {v.}, {informal} To fail; be ruined; not happen or be done. * /Jim's plans to go to college fell through at the last moment./ * /Mr. Jones' deal […] A Dictionary of American Idioms

fall on

[fall on] or [fall upon] {v.} 1. To go and fight with; attack. * /The robbers fell on him from behind trees./ 2. {formal} To meet (troubles). * /The famous […] A Dictionary of American Idioms

fall to

[fall to] {v.} 1. To begin to work. * /The boys fell to and quickly cut the grass./ Syn.: [TURN TO]. 2. To begin to fight. * /They took out […] A Dictionary of American Idioms

fall back on

[fall back on] or [fall back upon] {v. phr.} 1. To retreat to. * /The enemy made a strong attack, and the soldiers fell back on the fort./ 2. To […] A Dictionary of American Idioms

Recent updates

Duncan Spaeth, Princeton professor

I know why the sun never sets on the British Empire: God wouldn't trust an Englishman in the dark.

come to the point

[come to the point] or [get to the point] {v. phr.} To talk about the important thing; reach the important facts of the […]

strike one funny

[strike one funny] {v. phr.} To appear or seem laughable, curious, ironic, or entertaining. * /"It strikes me funny," he […]

P.J. O'Rourke

(1947--) U.S. humorist Never wear anything that panics the cat.

Adminisphere

[Adminisphere] The rarified organizational layers above the rank and file that makes decisions that are often profoundly […]

around the clock

[around the clock] also [the clock around] {adv. phr.} For 24 hours a day continuously all day and all night. * /The factory […]

wear thin

[wear thin] {v.} 1. To become thin from use, wearing, or the passing of time. * /My old pair of pants has worn thin at the […]