Phrase guide

fall through

verb · 3 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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  • Australia: Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.

1

verb

Meaning 1

Used other than figuratively or idiomatically: see fall, through.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

2

verb

Meaning 2

To be unsuccessful, come to nothing; to be cancelled; not to proceed.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: idiomatic, intransitive

Examples

  • Their plans to go hiking Saturday fell through because it rained.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

3

verb

Meaning 3

fail utterly; collapse

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • The project foundered

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: fall flat, founder, flop

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: fail, go wrong, miscarry

History

Etymology

No etymology was provided for this word.

Across languages

Translations

15 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Bulgarian: пропадам (propadam) — to be unsuccessful, come to nothing; to be cancelled; not to proceed
  • Finnish: ajautua karille — to be unsuccessful, come to nothing; to be cancelled; not to proceed
  • French: tomber à l’eau — to be unsuccessful, come to nothing; to be cancelled; not to proceed
  • German: fehlschlagen — to be unsuccessful, come to nothing; to be cancelled; not to proceed
  • German: scheitern — to be unsuccessful, come to nothing; to be cancelled; not to proceed
  • German: ins Wasser fallen — to be unsuccessful, come to nothing; to be cancelled; not to proceed
  • Hungarian: füstbe megy — to be unsuccessful, come to nothing; to be cancelled; not to proceed
  • Hungarian: kútba esik — to be unsuccessful, come to nothing; to be cancelled; not to proceed
  • Hungarian: meghiúsul — to be unsuccessful, come to nothing; to be cancelled; not to proceed
  • Hungarian: dugába dől — to be unsuccessful, come to nothing; to be cancelled; not to proceed
  • Hungarian: kudarcba fullad — to be unsuccessful, come to nothing; to be cancelled; not to proceed
  • Italian: andare a monte — to be unsuccessful, come to nothing; to be cancelled; not to proceed
  • Polish: przepadać — to be unsuccessful, come to nothing; to be cancelled; not to proceed
  • Polish: przepaść — to be unsuccessful, come to nothing; to be cancelled; not to proceed
  • Turkish: suya düşmek — to be unsuccessful, come to nothing; to be cancelled; not to proceed