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Glite Dictionary
to fall at the last hurdle

to fall at the last hurdle

6.7
Fail at the final stage after earlier success
  • idiom
  • Informal
translation icon : fracasar en el último momento
  • She had passed every exam, only to fall at the last hurdle during the interview stage.

Examples

  • Many startups fall at the last hurdle when it comes to securing crucial investment.

  • After months of careful preparation, the team fell at the last hurdle and lost the final match.

  • Don't fall at the last hurdle!

  • He fell at the last hurdle during the race.

  • After months of careful preparation, the team fell at the last hurdle and lost the final match.

  • Many startups fall at the last hurdle when it comes to securing crucial investment.

  • She had passed every exam, only to fall at the last hurdle during the interview stage.

Synonyms

to fail
vsto fall at the last hurdle
898 1.0

Not succeed in doing something you wanted to do

describes not succeeding specifically at the final important stage after earlier success

Antonyms

to succeed
846 2.0

To reach a goal after trying hard

finish
125 1.1

The act of completing something, especially in a competition

How Successful

to win
∞ 1.0
to succeed
846 2.0
to fall at the last hurdle
  • Informal
6.7
to fail
898 1.0

Surface Forms

fall at the last hurdle infinitive
fell at the last hurdle past
fallen at the last hurdle past participle
falling at the last hurdle present participle
falls at the last hurdle third person singular

Morphology

fall + at + the + last + hurdle

The phrase literally evokes a sporting image: 'fall' + 'last' + 'hurdle' clearly suggests failing at the final obstacle, so a learner who knows 'fall', 'last' and 'hurdle' can often infer the general sense. However, the use is a metaphorical extension to non-sport contexts (failing at the final stage), so the sense is not fully compositionally predictable without some exposure; cross-linguistic parallels exist but variability means partial transparency.

Etymology

The phrase fall at the last hurdle comes from hurdle races, where a runner must jump low barriers called hurdles, and if they fall at the final one after doing well, they lose. So it means 'to fail at the last or most important stage'.