wayside

drop by the wayside and fall by the wayside 

1. Lit. to leave a march or procession in exhaustion to recover beside the pathway. A few of the marchers dropped by the wayside in the intense heat.

2. Fig. to fail to keep up with others. Many of the students will drop by the wayside and never finish. Those who fall by the wayside will find it hard to catch up.

See also: drop

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fall by the wayside 

1. if someone falls by the wayside, they fail to finish an activity A lot of students fall by the wayside during their first year at university.

2. if something falls by the wayside, people stop doing it, making it, or using it Many new drugs fall by the wayside in the laboratory.

See also: fall

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fall by the wayside

1. to no longer be active Plans for at least one other power plant have fallen by the wayside. Most of the company's smaller rivals have fallen by the wayside.

2. to stop trying Students who fall by the wayside often do not see any reason why they should finish their courses. "I've seen a lot of bands split up and fall by the wayside," the singer said.

See also: fall