fall on one's face

Meaning: (idiomatic)Tofail, especially in adramaticor particularlydecisivemanner.1976May 3, “Power Switch Hitters”, inTime:Judge Charles R. Richey last week tried to apply some firm rules of law to such indelicate situations. He came close to succeeding, thenfell on his face.1988August 25, Jesus Rangel, “Mob Trial Going to Jury Today in Jersey”, inNew York Times, retrieved 5 Aug. 2009:But defense lawyers have compared the case to a "trashy novel" in which the Government presented plenty of gossip, hearsay and innuendo but little credible evidence. . . . "I think the Governmentfell on their face," said Michael Critchley.2008,Jeff Shaara,The Rising Tide: A Novel of World War II‎[1],→ISBN, page44:[O]thers grumbled, questioning whether this man knew anything about fighting in the desert or was simply a strutting martinet who, once he was confronted with the tactical brilliance of Rommel, wouldfall on his facelike so many before him. Unfortunately, if Montgomery failed, he would no doubt take a good part of the Eighth Army with him.

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