fall on one's face

present singular third person falls on one's face · participle present falling on one's face · past fell on one's face · participle past fallen on one's face

1. idiomaticTo 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

   2 more examples

   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 Government fell on their face," said Michael Critchley.

   1988 August 25, Jesus Rangel, “Mob Trial Going to Jury Today in Jersey”, in New York Times, retrieved 05 Aug 2009

   [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, would fall on his face like so many before him. Unfortunately, if Montgomery failed, he would no doubt take a good part of the Eighth Army with him.

   2008, Jeff Shaara, The Rising Tide: A Novel of World War II, →ISBN, page 44