met one's Waterloo
Suffered crushing defeat
To meet one's Waterloo is to suffer a decisive, final defeat after a period of success.
The phrase comes from Napoleon's catastrophic loss at the Battle of Waterloo in 1815, which ended his reign.
It implies not just any setback but the one that proves fatal to ambitions: The undefeated champion finally met his Waterloo.
After years of dodging regulators, the company met its Waterloo in court.
- fall from graceLoss of status or reputation
- fall from powerSudden loss of authority
- NapoleonFrench emperor, military genius
- comeuppanceDeserved punishment or rebuke
- lossBeing without something
final blow · bite the dust · arrogance · overreach · Wellington · pride · face the music · eat humble pie · collapse · complacency · battle · recklessness · nemesis · downfall · hubris · reckoning · moment of truth · last stand
met one's Waterlootriumphed
Achieved decisive victory
conquered · prevailed · won the day · carried the day · seized the day
met one's Waterloocame into one's own
Achieved deserved recognition
turned the tide · snatched victory from the jaws of defeat · peaked · hit one's stride
meets, meeting, meetings, ones, Waterloo, water, waters, watered, watering