falls on one's face
Fails in public
To fall on one's face is to fail conspicuously, especially after confident expectations of success.
The image is of someone stumbling forward and landing face-first—a public, ungraceful collapse: The product launch fell on its face when nobody showed up.
The phrase emphasizes both the failure and its visibility to others.
- tripPlanned travel somewhere
- stumbleLose footing momentarily
- wipes outDestroys completely or crashes
- blunderFoolish, costly mistake
- fiascoHumiliating public failure
shame · mortification · flop · embarrassment · collapse · slip · faceplant · debacle · misstep · epic fail · regret · crash · crash and burn · bites the dust · pratfall · belly flop · defeat · discouragement
falls on one's facesucceeds
Accomplishes a goal
triumphs · nails it · sticks the landing · lands on one's feet · wins
falls on one's facesteals the show
Outperforms all others unexpectedly
falls on one's facelands on one's feet
Recovers well from difficulty
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