fall flat on one's face

Verb

fall flat on one's face (third-person singular simple present falls flat on one's face, present participle falling flat on one's face, simple past fell flat on one's face, past participle fallen flat on one's face)

1. (literally) To fall headlong forwards, notionally hitting one's face on the ground.
   • I tripped over my shoelace and fell flat on my face.
   • Tripping over a fallen limb, I fall flat on my face, confirming that tropical soils have all the organic cushion of macadam.1990 August, Boyd Gibbons, “Missouri's Garden of Consequence”, in National Geographic, volume 178, number 2, page 130
2. (figuratively) To fail miserably, especially in an obvious or embarrassing way.
   • He tried to start his own business but fell flat on his face.