fell on one's face

Verb

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

1. (idiomatic) To fail, especially in a dramatic or particularly decisive manner.
   • Judge Charles R. Richey last week tried to apply some firm rules of law to such indelicate situations. He came close to succeeding, then fell on his face.1976 May 3, “Power Switch Hitters”, in Time