fall on (one's) feet

(redirected from fell on your feet)

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.

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]

fall (or land) on your feet

achieve a fortunate outcome to a difficult situation.

This expression comes from cats' supposed ability always to land on their feet, even if they fall or jump from a very high point.

1996 Sunday Post Unlike most people in Hollywood who starved to get there, I just fell on my feet.

fall/land on your ˈfeet

(informal) be lucky in finding a good position, job, place to live, etc., especially when your previous situation was difficult: Well, you really fell on your feet this time, didn’t you? A job in Rome, a large flat, a company car...This expression may refer to the fact that cats are thought to always land safely on their feet, even if they fall or jump from a very high place.

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.”