fall flat on one's face

English

Verb

fall flat on one's face (third-person singular simple present falls flat on one's face, present participle falling flat on one's face, simple past fell flat on one's face, past participle fallen flat on one's face)

1. (literally) To fall headlong forwards, notionally hitting one's face on the ground.

   I tripped over my shoelace and fell flat on my face.

2. (figuratively) To fail miserably, especially in an obvious or embarrassing way.

   He tried to start his own business but fell flat on his face.

References

• “fall flat on one's face”, in Collins English Dictionary.
• “fall flat on your face” (US) / “fall flat on your face” (UK) in Macmillan English Dictionary.
• “fall flat on one's face”, in Lexico, Dictionary.com; Oxford University Press, 2019–2022.