Phrase guide

fall by the wayside

verb · 2 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

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  • Received-Pronunciation: /ˈfɔːl baɪ ðə ˈweɪsaɪd/
  • General-American: /ˈfɔl baɪ ðə ˈweɪˌsaɪd/
  • Australia: Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.

1

verb

Meaning 1

To fail to be completed, particularly for lack of interest; to be left out, to suffer from neglect.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: idiomatic

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

2

verb

Meaning 2

give up in the face of defeat of lacking hope; admit defeat

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • In the second round, the challenger gave up

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: drop out, give up, drop by the wayside, throw in, throw in the towel, quit, chuck up the sponge

Antonyms: none provided

History

Etymology

From the Parable of the Sower told by Jesus and recorded in the New Testament of the Bible, the term appearing in Matthew 13:4, Mark 4:4, and Luke 8:5. The parable is the story of a farmer who sows seed, and “some fell by the wayside, and it was trodden down, and the fowls of the air devoured it” (Luke 8:5). Jesus then explains: “The seed is the word of God. Those by the wayside, are they that hear: then cometh the Devil, and taketh away the word out of their hearts, lest they should believe, and be saved.” (Luke 8:11–12, King James Version, spelling modernized.) The English term is derived from Ancient Greek ἔπεσεν παρὰ τὴν ὁδόν (épesen parà tḕn hodón, literally “fell beside the path”).

Across languages

Translations

12 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Chinese Mandarin: 虎頭蛇尾 /虎头蛇尾 (hǔtóushéwěi) — to fail to be completed, particularly for lack of interest; to be left out, to suffer from neglect
  • Dutch: buiten de boot vallen — to fail to be completed, particularly for lack of interest; to be left out, to suffer from neglect
  • Dutch: falen — to fail to be completed, particularly for lack of interest; to be left out, to suffer from neglect
  • French: être sur le carreau — to fail to be completed, particularly for lack of interest; to be left out, to suffer from neglect
  • French: rester sur le carreau — to fail to be completed, particularly for lack of interest; to be left out, to suffer from neglect
  • German: auf der Strecke bleiben — to fail to be completed, particularly for lack of interest; to be left out, to suffer from neglect
  • German: in Vergessenheit geraten — to fail to be completed, particularly for lack of interest; to be left out, to suffer from neglect
  • German: vernachlässigt werden — to fail to be completed, particularly for lack of interest; to be left out, to suffer from neglect
  • German: verkümmern — to fail to be completed, particularly for lack of interest; to be left out, to suffer from neglect
  • Italian: arenarsi — to fail to be completed, particularly for lack of interest; to be left out, to suffer from neglect
  • Italian: cadere nel dimenticatoio — to fail to be completed, particularly for lack of interest; to be left out, to suffer from neglect
  • Italian: fallire — to fail to be completed, particularly for lack of interest; to be left out, to suffer from neglect