land on (one)

land on (one)

1. Literally, to descend from the air and set down on top of someone or something. The wasp landed on me, so I had to stand perfectly still until it flew off again.

2. To become the burden or responsibility of someone, especially very suddenly, unceremoniously, or without prior notice. It always lands on me to deal with the boss's stupid mistakes. Blame for their loss has to land on the team's coaching staff.

See also: land, on

Farlex Dictionary of Idioms. © 2024 Farlex, Inc, all rights reserved.

land (up)on someone or something

to light on someone or something. (Upon is formal and less commonly used than on.) A bee landed upon her and frightened her. The spoon I dropped landed on the cake and ruined the icing.

See also: land, on

McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs. © 2002 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.

land on

see under jump all over; for land on one's feet, see fall on one's feet.

See also: land, 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.