fall between the cracks

verb

To wind up in an unexpected situation which is, inadvertently, invisible to or not handled by whatever process one had hoped to be subject to; to be overlooked.

“I submitted my application for student finance months ago, but haven't heard back. I think I've fallen between the cracks.”

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Meanings

verbfall between the cracks (third-person singular simple present falls between the cracks, present participle falling between the cracks, simple past fell between the cracks, past participle fallen between the cracks)

present singular third person falls between the cracks · participle present falling between the cracks · past fell between the cracks · participle past fallen between the cracks

  1. idiomaticTo wind up in an unexpected situation which is, inadvertently, invisible to or not handled by whatever process one had hoped to be subject to; to be overlooked.

    I submitted my application for student finance months ago, but haven't heard back. I think I've fallen between the cracks.

Cite this entry
APA

fall between the cracks. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 5, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/fall%20between%20the%20cracks

MLA

“fall between the cracks.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/fall%20between%20the%20cracks. Accessed November 5, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “fall between the cracks,” accessed November 5, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/fall%20between%20the%20cracks.

Source: fall between the cracks on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.