fall through

USAGE SUMMARY

"fall through" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when you mean for something to fail or not happen as expected, or for a plan or idea to be abandoned. Example: We had a great plan to start a business, but it fell through at the last minute.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

"Don't fall through," the man said.

The New Yorker

"Roll-y toys can fall through," Ms. Betancourt says.

The New York Times

Many of them fall through.

The New Yorker

Did crucial loans fall through?

The Guardian - Arts

You might fall through".

The New York Times - Travel

Could a tree fall through our window?

The New York Times

They fall through the cracks".

The New York Times

Ordinary people fall through history.

The Guardian

If your plans fall through, that's fine.

The New York Times

Pieces of masonry fall through skylight.

The New York Times

"I'm anticipating some support will fall through".

The New York Times - Sports

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "fall through" to describe situations where plans, deals, or arrangements do not materialize as expected. For example, "The negotiations fell through at the last minute."

Common error

Avoid using alternative prepositions with "fall". The correct preposition is "through". For example, it's incorrect to say "The deal fell over" when you mean "The deal fell through".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "fall through" functions primarily as a phrasal verb, indicating the failure of a plan or agreement. As Ludwig AI confirms, this phrase is used to describe when something doesn't happen as expected.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

58%

Science

18%

Formal & Business

12%

Less common in

Wiki

6%

Reference

3%

Academia

3%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrasal verb "fall through" is a common and correct way to describe the failure of plans, deals, or arrangements. Ludwig AI confirms its usability in various contexts. It's grammatically sound and versatile, suitable for both formal and informal communication. Remember to use the preposition "through" correctly and avoid substituting it with others. While many alternative phrases exist, such as "come to nothing" or "fail to materialize", the specific context will guide the best choice.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

come to nothing

Emphasizes the lack of a positive outcome or result.

fail to materialize

Highlights the absence of an expected event or development.

be unsuccessful

Focuses on the lack of success or achievement.

prove abortive

Indicates that something was stopped before completion.

not come about

Stresses the non-occurrence of an event or plan.

dissolve

Suggests that something gradually ceased to exist or function.

fizzle out

Implies a gradual decline or loss of enthusiasm, leading to failure.

be canceled

Highlights that something was officially terminated or called off.

collapse

Focuses on the sudden failure or breakdown of something.

be ruined

Emphasizes the idea of destruction or complete failure of something.

FAQs

What does "fall through" mean?

The idiom "fall through" means to fail to happen or not be completed as planned. It's often used when discussing plans, arrangements, or deals that don't work out.

How to use "fall through" in a sentence?

You can use "fall through" to describe a variety of situations. For example, "Our vacation plans "fell through" because of the pandemic", or "The merger might "fall through" if the regulatory hurdles aren't cleared".

What can I say instead of "fall through"?

Alternatives to "fall through" include "come to nothing", "fail to materialize", or "be unsuccessful" depending on the context.

Is it correct to say "fall over" instead of "fall through" when referring to plans?

No, while "fall over" has its own meanings, when referring to plans or agreements that fail, the correct phrase is ""fall through"". "Fall over" usually refers to physically tripping or collapsing.