meet one's Waterloo
Face final downfall
To meet one's Waterloo is to suffer a decisive defeat or final setback, especially after a period of success.
The phrase alludes to Napoleon's catastrophic loss at the Battle of Waterloo in 1815, which ended his rule.
The undefeated champion finally met his Waterloo.
After years of dodging regulators, the company met its Waterloo in federal court.
- crash and burnFail completely and visibly
- epic failSpectacular, embarrassing blunder
- hubrisRuinous excessive confidence
- fatal flawRuinous character defect
- bite the dustFail or perish utterly
Napoleon · humiliation · eat humble pie · come to grief · nemesis · defeat · crushing blow · downfall · brought low · fiasco · poetic justice · come a cropper · overconfidence · fail · fall from grace · disaster · comeuppance · bitter end
meet one's Waterlootriumph
Resounding, celebrated victory
prevail · conquer · carry the day · win the day · snatch victory from the jaws of defeat
meet one's Waterloorise to power
Gaining control or authority
make one's mark · hit one's stride · come into one's own · turn the corner · bounce back