the wheels fell off

phrase

Something failed, often after or amidst a laborious, tiring process.

“The coach said, "We were doing well for a while, but they got tired and then the wheels fell off".”

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Meanings

phrase

alternative the wheels came off · alternative the wheels fall off · alternative the wheels fell off the bus · alternative the wheels came off the bus · alternative the wheels fell off the wagon · alternative the wheels came off the wagon

  1. idiomaticSomething failed, often after or amidst a laborious, tiring process.

    The coach said, "We were doing well for a while, but they got tired and then the wheels fell off".

Cite this entry
APA

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

MLA

“the wheels fell off.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/the%20wheels%20fell%20off. Accessed November 5, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “the wheels fell off,” accessed November 5, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/the%20wheels%20fell%20off.

Source: the wheels fell off on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.