hurdle

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fall at the first hurdle

To fail to accomplish some task or goal at the very beginning of the attempt. John had his business plan all laid out, but he fell at the first hurdle when the bank refused to grant him a loan.

fall at the final hurdle

To fail to accomplish some task or goal at the very end of the attempt. Negotiations between the two warring countries fell at the final hurdle due to disagreements over cross-border taxation.

fall at the last hurdle

To fail to accomplish some task or goal at the very end of the attempt. Negotiations between the two warring countries fell at the last hurdle due to disagreements over cross-border taxation.

See also: fall, hurdle, last

References in periodicals archive ?

And profit sharing only commences upon 100% cash return on investment and selected IRR Hurdle Rate.

Japonica Partners Files U.S. Patent on ''Triple Option'' Hurdle; New global best practice integral to unique business model

40 Martin Pipe Conditional Jockeys' Handicap Hurdle (2m 4 1/2f)

Cheltenham Festival 2013; The greatest show on turf

Tiger Roll, winner of the JCB Triumph Hurdle last season, finished 19 lengths behind Hurricane Fly in the Ryanair Hurdle last month and is fitted with cheekpieces today.

McDonogh back in big time with Fiscal; CONTENDERS Rest of the field

CARSON - Kerron Clement is so fast he broke Michael Johnson's long-standing 400-meter indoor record, so throwing some hurdles in front of him isn't much of an impediment.

CLEMENT HURDLES COMPETITION IN 400-METER RACE RUNS FASTEST TIME THIS YEAR

Clair Soleil, trained by Ryan Price and ridden by Fred Winter, won the Champion Hurdle in 1955 and, having lost some of his speed, took the Spa Hurdle in 1959.

Rock On would be third to double up

Perry is registered in both the heptathlon and 100 hurdles at this week's U.

IN A CLASS ALL HER OWN PERRY EXCELS IN HURDLES, HEPTATHLON

He said: "How can you have chases either side of the hurdle races where they jumped all the fences yet the hurdles are omitted because of low sun?

Nicholls hits out at 'ludicrous' hurdles omission

But the 18-time champion - who needs nine winners to reach his 4,000 - will today make his first trip to his local course since 2008 to ride the five-year-old, whose Champion Hurdle odds are no bigger than 10-1.

'All has gone to plan' as Jezki sets off on road to Champion

ATHENS, Greece - Joanna Hayes may not have been the favorite in the Olympic 100-meter hurdles final Tuesday, but she certainly didn't know it.

SURPRISE! HAYES UNEXPECTEDLY WINS HURDLES RUNNERS' COLLISION CLEARS PATH TO GOLD

Kempton's Listed 2m hurdle on October 20 has been identified as the starting point for The New One, the Champion Hurdle sponsor's 6-1 fourth favourite.

New One team bullish as they map out season

For some reason, I ended up under the hurdle and on the ground.

GLORY & AGONY IN HER FIFTH OLYMPIC GAMES, GAIL DEVERS PULLS UP SHORT

However, King could still send his Grade 1-winning five-year-old for the County Hurdle, for which he is a 20-1 chance, while alternative engagements at Ayr and Punchestown are also being considered.

King gives Grumeti County Hurdle option

He won a 2m novice hurdle at Newcastle last March and has run well on both his starts this season.

Talkin Thomas open to plenty of improvement

She will make her Olympic debut in the 400-meter hurdles after qualifying at last month's U.

DEMUS DEBUTS HURDLER GOES AHEAD OF SCHEDULE

Verdict Hurricane Fly took the Istabraq Festival Hurdle en route to this in 2011 and can repeat the trick here and complete an Irish Champion Hurdle hat-trick.