fall on one's feet, to

fall on (one's) feet

To adeptly survive a difficult ordeal or situation without suffering any major negative consequences. I wouldn't worry about Chloe—no matter what bizarre scheme she gets mixed up in, she always falls on her feet. I know you're stressed out about being laid off, but you are so skilled that I know you'll fall on your feet. How am I going to land on my feet this time? I already blew through my emergency fund the last time something went wrong with the house!
See also: fall, feet, on
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms. © 2024 Farlex, Inc, all rights reserved.

fall on one's feet

Also, land on one's feet. Overcome difficulties, be restored to a sound or stable condition. For example, Don't worry about Joe's losing his job two years in a row-he always falls on his feet, or The company went bankrupt, but the following year it was restructured and landed on its feet . This term alludes to the cat and its remarkable ability to land on its paws after falling from a great height. [Mid-1800s]
See also: fall, feet, on
The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer. Copyright © 2003, 1997 by The Christine Ammer 1992 Trust. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

fall on one's feet, to

To make a lucky recovery from potential disaster. The term alludes to the cat, which has a remarkable ability to land on its paws after falling or being tossed from a height. The analogy was made long ago, appearing in John Ray’s proverb collection of 1678 (“He’s like a cat; fling him which way you will he’ll light on ’s legs”) and was certainly a cliché by the time William Roughead wrote (Malice Domestic, 1929), “That lady had indeed, as the phrase is, fallen on her feet.”
See also: fall, on, to
The Dictionary of Clichés by Christine Ammer Copyright © 2013 by Christine Ammer
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