come a cropper

come a cropper

Fig. to have a misfortune; to fail. (Meaning 'fall off one's horse.') Bob invested all his money in the stock market just before it fell. Boy, did he come a cropper. Jane was out all night before she took her final. She really came a cropper.

See also: come

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come a cropper 

1. (British informal) to fall to the ground Supermodel Naomi Campbell came a cropper last week on the catwalk of a Paris fashion show.

2. (British informal) to make a mistake or to have something bad happen to you which makes you less successful than before The leading actor came a cropper when he forgot his lines halfway through the second act.

See also: come

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come a cropper

to fail or be less successful than before I don't feel sorry for them - took a risk and it came a cropper for them.

See also: come