face plant

USAGE SUMMARY

'face plant' is a correct and usable term in written English.
It means to fall forward and down onto one's face, often because of an awkward slip or stumble. You can use it in any casual or informal context. Example sentence: My friend stepped on her own shoelace and did a face plant in the middle of the crowded hallway.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

31 human-written examples

Face plant.

The New York Times - Travel

Gotta go get frostbite and face plant.

The New York Times - Sports

It was hardly a serious face plant by the standards we had begun to set.

The New York Times - Magazine

Seattle, however, seem to face plant more often than a team of their talent should.

The Guardian - Sport

The reality is that most people do a splashy face plant.

The New York Times - Sports

With that, Mrs. Whitman did what Generation X refers to as a face plant on the hard ground.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

27 human-written examples

I ended up doing a complete face-plant on the stage.

The Guardian - Money

As might a semi-catatonic face-plant into the arms of my Italian lover, Taleggio.

The New York Times - Food

When desperate bankers finally managed to complete the deal last month, the fledgling stock promptly did a face-plant.

The Guardian - Money

West is too strong at the top for them to get back up from their annual midseason face-plant.

The New York Times

You can face-plant at the nearby and artful Chambers hotel, or just have a nightcap on the rooftop then cab back to your own hotel.

The New York Times - Travel

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "face plant" to vividly describe a sudden and often embarrassing fall, both literally and figuratively.

Common error

Avoid using "face plant" in formal writing; opt for more professional terms like "failure" or "setback" to maintain a serious tone.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "face plant" primarily functions as a noun, often used as part of a verb phrase (e.g., "do a face plant"). It describes the act of falling forward onto one's face. As Ludwig AI suggests, its usage is common and widely understood.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

51%

Wiki

11%

Science

9%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The term "face plant" is a common and colorful phrase used to describe a sudden fall or failure, often in an embarrassing way. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's grammatically correct and widely understood. While it appears frequently in News & Media, its informal nature makes it less suitable for formal or professional writing. When a more formal term is needed, consider using "failure" or "setback" instead. Be sure to use the phrase "face plant" to vividly describe when someone is "fall flat on one's face" or "take a header" both literally and figuratively.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

fall flat on one's face

Uses a more descriptive and figurative expression.

take a header

Offers a synonym for a forward fall.

take a tumble

Replaces "face plant" with a more general term for falling.

nose-dive

Replaces "face plant" with a more dramatic and visual term.

stumble and fall

Provides a literal description of the action.

flop

Offers a simpler, less graphic alternative.

bite the dust

A more informal idiom for falling or failing.

fail spectacularly

Shifts the focus from the physical fall to the overall failure.

end up in a heap

Describes the result of falling clumsily.

make a mess of things

Focuses on the negative outcome of the action, de-emphasizing the physical fall.

FAQs

How can I use "face plant" in a sentence?

You can use "face plant" to describe a literal fall: "He did a complete face plant on the ice." Or, you can use it figuratively: "The project took a face plant after the funding was cut."

What's a more formal alternative to "face plant"?

In formal contexts, consider using terms like "failure", "setback", or "collapse" instead of "face plant".

Is "face plant" appropriate for professional writing?

While "face plant" is widely understood, it's generally best to avoid it in professional writing in favour of more formal language.

What does it mean when someone says something "did a face plant"?

It means that something failed suddenly and spectacularly, often in an embarrassing way. For alternative expressions, consider "fall flat on one's face" or "fail spectacularly".