fall (flat) on (one's)/its face
1. Literally, to fall and land on one's face. I slipped on the banana peel, fell flat on my face, and nearly broke my nose. Poor Heather fell on her face during recess today, but she only has a few scrapes on her forehead. Are you OK? I saw you slip on that ice and fall flat on your face.
2. To fail thoroughly or in a spectacular or embarrassing way. I'll never forget my first comedy routine. I got out there under the bright lights and fell flat on my face—not a single person laughed. Unfortunately the advertising campaign just kind of fell on its face and never gained any traction with consumers. I'm afraid that translation will fall flat on its face in this language, since we have no such idiom.
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms. © 2024 Farlex, Inc, all rights reserved.
fall (flat) on one's face
1. . Lit. to fall down, face first. Bobby fell flat on his face and skinned his nose. Down he went—he fell on his face.
2. Fig. to fail miserably, usually in a performance. She was terrible in the play. She fell flat on her face. The whole play fell on its face.
McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs. © 2002 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.