1fall 
/ˈfɑ:l/ verb
falls; fell /ˈfɑ:l/ verb /ˈfɛl/; fall·en /ˈfɑ:lən/; fall·ing [no obj] 1 a : to come or go down quickly from a high place or position
▪ An apple fell from the tree. ▪ A vase fell off the shelf. ▪ Rain fell from the sky. ▪ the sound of the falling rain
b : to come or go down suddenly from a standing position
▪ She slipped and fell on the ice. ▪ He fell flat on his face. ▪ She was afraid that I would trip and fall. ▪ He fell down the stairs. ▪ One of the sailors had fallen overboard. ▪ a fallen tree — often + down or over ▪ She fell down and hurt herself. ▪ The tree fell over during the storm.
c : to let yourself come or go down to a lower position
▪ He fell [=dropped, sank] to his knees and asked for forgiveness. ▪ He fell back/forward onto the bed. 2 a : to come down at a particular place after moving through the air
▪ The shot fell a great distance from its target. — often + on ▪ A ray of light fell on the table. — sometimes used figuratively ▪ music falling on the ear
b : to slope downward — usually + away ▪ The ground falls away to the east. ▪ The sides of the ridge fall away steeply.
c : to hang down
▪ Her hair fell loosely over her shoulders. 3 a : to become lower
▪ The tide rose and fell. ▪ The temperature fell after dark. ▪ His heart rate fell (off) dramatically. ▪ The value of the stock has fallen drastically.
b : to become less
▪ Participation in the group has fallen. [=declined] — often + off ▪ Participation in the group has fallen off. ▪ Factory production has fallen off.
c : to lose value : to suffer a decline in prices
▪ Stocks fell several points in early trading today. ▪ The market is continuing to fall.
d : to become less loud
▪ His voice fell (to a whisper). ▪ The music rose and fell. 4 a of a glance or the eyes : to become lowered
▪ Her eyes fell. [=she looked down]
b of the face : to begin to look ashamed or disappointed
▪ His face fell [=he looked disappointed] when he heard the news. 5 of night or darkness : to arrive or begin
▪ Darkness falls early in the winter. ▪ Night has fallen. 6 a : to be wounded or killed in battle
▪ Many men fell on the battlefield that day.
b : to be captured or defeated
▪ The fortress fell on the third day of the siege.
c : to experience ruin or failure
▪ A great civilization fell in less than a century. ▪ a fallen [=disgraced] leader ▪ We will stand or fall together. ▪ a politician who has fallen from power ▪ The coalition government fell after only six months in office. 7 a : to happen at a specified time
▪ Christmas falls on a Friday this year. ▪ The worst weather of the year fell during his vacation.
b — used when something (such as a responsibililty) comes or passes to someone in a way that does not involve choice ▪ It fell to me [=it was my responsibility] to tell them about the car accident. ▪ Responsibility for the damage falls with the other driver. ▪ The estate fell to his brother. [=his brother inherited the estate]
c : to have a specified proper place
▪ The accent falls on the second syllable. ▪ The comma falls inside the quotation mark. 8 : to belong in a particular category or range
▪ This word falls within the class of verbs. ▪ Her political views fall somewhere between liberal and conservative. ▪ His creative output falls into three distinct categories. 9 a — used when someone's body or mind passes from one condition or state to another ▪ She fell ill/sick. ▪ He fell asleep.
b — used when something passes to a different and usually a less active or less desirable state or condition ▪ The crowd fell silent. ▪ This word has fallen [=gone] out of use. = This word has fallen into disuse. [=this word is no longer used] ▪ His theories have now fallen into disrepute/disfavor. ▪ The machinery has fallen into disrepair. 10 : to start doing something in a very active and energetic way — + to ▪ She came in and fell immediately to work.
▪ An apple fell from the tree. ▪ A vase fell off the shelf. ▪ Rain fell from the sky. ▪ the sound of the falling rain
b : to come or go down suddenly from a standing position
▪ She slipped and fell on the ice. ▪ He fell flat on his face. ▪ She was afraid that I would trip and fall. ▪ He fell down the stairs. ▪ One of the sailors had fallen overboard. ▪ a fallen tree — often + down or over ▪ She fell down and hurt herself. ▪ The tree fell over during the storm.
c : to let yourself come or go down to a lower position
▪ He fell [=dropped, sank] to his knees and asked for forgiveness. ▪ He fell back/forward onto the bed.
▪ The shot fell a great distance from its target. — often + on ▪ A ray of light fell on the table. — sometimes used figuratively ▪ music falling on the ear
b : to slope downward — usually + away ▪ The ground falls away to the east. ▪ The sides of the ridge fall away steeply.
c : to hang down
▪ Her hair fell loosely over her shoulders.
▪ The tide rose and fell. ▪ The temperature fell after dark. ▪ His heart rate fell (off) dramatically. ▪ The value of the stock has fallen drastically.
b : to become less
▪ Participation in the group has fallen. [=declined] — often + off ▪ Participation in the group has fallen off. ▪ Factory production has fallen off.
c : to lose value : to suffer a decline in prices
▪ Stocks fell several points in early trading today. ▪ The market is continuing to fall.
d : to become less loud
▪ His voice fell (to a whisper). ▪ The music rose and fell.
▪ Her eyes fell. [=she looked down]
b of the face : to begin to look ashamed or disappointed
▪ His face fell [=he looked disappointed] when he heard the news.
▪ Darkness falls early in the winter. ▪ Night has fallen.
▪ Many men fell on the battlefield that day.
b : to be captured or defeated
▪ The fortress fell on the third day of the siege.
c : to experience ruin or failure
▪ A great civilization fell in less than a century. ▪ a fallen [=disgraced] leader ▪ We will stand or fall together. ▪ a politician who has fallen from power ▪ The coalition government fell after only six months in office.
▪ Christmas falls on a Friday this year. ▪ The worst weather of the year fell during his vacation.
b — used when something (such as a responsibililty) comes or passes to someone in a way that does not involve choice ▪ It fell to me [=it was my responsibility] to tell them about the car accident. ▪ Responsibility for the damage falls with the other driver. ▪ The estate fell to his brother. [=his brother inherited the estate]
c : to have a specified proper place
▪ The accent falls on the second syllable. ▪ The comma falls inside the quotation mark.
▪ This word falls within the class of verbs. ▪ Her political views fall somewhere between liberal and conservative. ▪ His creative output falls into three distinct categories.
b — used when something passes to a different and usually a less active or less desirable state or condition ▪ The crowd fell silent. ▪ This word has fallen [=gone] out of use. = This word has fallen into disuse. [=this word is no longer used] ▪ His theories have now fallen into disrepute/disfavor. ▪ The machinery has fallen into disrepair.
(as) easy as falling off a log — see 1easy
fall afoul of — see afoul of
fall (all) over yourself
: to be very eager or too eager
▪ Fans were falling over themselves trying to meet the basketball star. ▪ Reviewers are falling all over themselves to praise her latest novel.
▪ Fans were falling over themselves trying to meet the basketball star. ▪ Reviewers are falling all over themselves to praise her latest novel.
fall apart [phrasal verb] 1 : to break into parts in usually a sudden and unexpected way
▪ The pie was falling apart as I tried to serve it. — often used figuratively ▪ I feel as if my family is falling apart. ◊Something that is falling apart is in very bad condition.
▪ My old car is falling apart. ▪ The house was falling apart when we bought it. 2 : to become unable to live in a normal way because you are experiencing a lot of confusion or emotional pain
▪ She began to fall apart when her son was imprisoned.
▪ The pie was falling apart as I tried to serve it. — often used figuratively ▪ I feel as if my family is falling apart. ◊Something that is falling apart is in very bad condition.
▪ My old car is falling apart. ▪ The house was falling apart when we bought it.
▪ She began to fall apart when her son was imprisoned.
fall away [phrasal verb]
: to become gradually less : to disappear gradually
▪ The sound of the parade fell away in the distance.
▪ The sound of the parade fell away in the distance.
fall back [phrasal verb] 1 : to move back away from something dangerous or threatening : retreat
▪ The crowd fell back when the police arrived. ▪ The guerrillas fell back across the border after a brief battle with the army. 2 fall back on (something) also fall back upon (something) : to use (something) for help or protection when you are in a bad situation
▪ When her health insurance was canceled she had nothing to fall back on. ▪ They had to fall back on their emergency supplies when the snow storm blocked the road to town.
▪ The crowd fell back when the police arrived. ▪ The guerrillas fell back across the border after a brief battle with the army.
▪ When her health insurance was canceled she had nothing to fall back on. ▪ They had to fall back on their emergency supplies when the snow storm blocked the road to town.
fall behind [phrasal verb] 1 : to fail to move or go forward as quickly as others
▪ We had to stop several times so that the slower hikers wouldn't fall (too far) behind. 2 : to fail to do something as quickly as planned or required — often + with ▪ We've been falling further behind with our work. — often + on ▪ I am falling behind on my homework. ▪ We fell behind on our car payments.
▪ We had to stop several times so that the slower hikers wouldn't fall (too far) behind.
fall down on the job
: to do a job badly
▪ The people who are supposed to be keeping the city clean have been falling down on the job.
▪ The people who are supposed to be keeping the city clean have been falling down on the job.
fall flat
: to produce no response or result
▪ All of his jokes fell flat. [=no one laughed at his jokes]
▪ All of his jokes fell flat. [=no one laughed at his jokes]
fall for [phrasal verb] 1 fall for (someone) : to feel a strong attraction for (someone) : to fall in love with (someone)
▪ He fell for her the moment he saw her. ▪ He fell for her hard. = He fell hard for her. = He fell for her like a ton of bricks. [=he became deeply in love with her] 2 fall for (something) : to be fooled by (something, such as a trick)
▪ I can't believe you fell for that old trick.
▪ He fell for her the moment he saw her. ▪ He fell for her hard. = He fell hard for her. = He fell for her like a ton of bricks. [=he became deeply in love with her]
▪ I can't believe you fell for that old trick.
fall foul of — see 1foul
fall from grace — see 1grace
fall in [phrasal verb] 1 : to break apart and fall down in an inward direction
▪ The roof fell in. 2 : to take your place in a military formation
▪ The troops were ordered to fall in. — compare fall out (below)
▪ The roof fell in.
▪ The troops were ordered to fall in. — compare fall out (below)
fall in/into line
: to start to do what you are told or required to do
▪ Several of the older companies have refused to fall in line (with the new regulations). ▪ It was weeks before the new prisoner fell into line.
▪ Several of the older companies have refused to fall in line (with the new regulations). ▪ It was weeks before the new prisoner fell into line.
fall in love, fall out of love — see 1love
fall into [phrasal verb] 1 : to be caught in (a trap)
▪ We fell into a trap. 2 : to begin to do or experience (something) or to be affected by (something) without wanting or trying to
▪ He fell deeply into debt. ▪ She fell into her career almost accidentally. ▪ She fell into the habit of going out for ice cream every night.
▪ We fell into a trap.
▪ He fell deeply into debt. ▪ She fell into her career almost accidentally. ▪ She fell into the habit of going out for ice cream every night.
fall into place
: to fit together : to make sense
▪ The pieces of the puzzle/mystery are finally starting to fall into place.
▪ The pieces of the puzzle/mystery are finally starting to fall into place.
fall into step — see 1step
fall into the hands of
: to come to be held or possessed by (someone)
▪ Officials are concerned that the stolen weapons may fall into the hands of terrorists. [=that terrorists may get/obtain the stolen weapons]
▪ Officials are concerned that the stolen weapons may fall into the hands of terrorists. [=that terrorists may get/obtain the stolen weapons]
fall into the wrong hands
: to come to be held or possessed by the wrong person or group
▪ There could be a disaster if the weapons fell into the wrong hands.
▪ There could be a disaster if the weapons fell into the wrong hands.
fall into your lap — see 1lap
fall in with [phrasal verb] 1 fall in with (someone) : to begin to spend time with (someone)
▪ Their daughter fell in with a bad crowd. 2 fall in with (something) : to accept and act in agreement with (something)
▪ They readily fell in with our plans.
▪ Their daughter fell in with a bad crowd.
▪ They readily fell in with our plans.
fall off [phrasal verb]
: to stop being attached to something
▪ The handle was so loose that it almost fell off. — see also 1fall 3b (above)
▪ The handle was so loose that it almost fell off. — see also 1fall 3b (above)
fall on/upon [phrasal verb] 1 fall on/upon (something) a : to begin to experience (something) : to meet with (an experience)
▪ We fell on hard times after I lost my job. ▪ The company fell upon some unexpected competition.
b : to notice (something) especially without wanting or trying to
▪ Her eyes/glance fell on the letter on his desk. 2 fall on/upon (someone) : to attack (someone) suddenly
▪ They fell on the enemy soldiers and killed every one of them.
▪ We fell on hard times after I lost my job. ▪ The company fell upon some unexpected competition.
b : to notice (something) especially without wanting or trying to
▪ Her eyes/glance fell on the letter on his desk.
▪ They fell on the enemy soldiers and killed every one of them.
fall on deaf ears — see 1ear
fall on your feet — see 1foot
fall out [phrasal verb] 1 of a tooth or hair : to stop being attached to the body
▪ The cancer treatments made her hair fall out. 2 : to have an argument
▪ They fell out [=fought, argued] over money. ▪ He had fallen out [=quarreled] with his neighbor. — see also falling-out 3 : to leave your place in a military formation
▪ The soldiers were ordered to fall out. — compare fall in (above)
▪ The cancer treatments made her hair fall out.
▪ They fell out [=fought, argued] over money. ▪ He had fallen out [=quarreled] with his neighbor. — see also falling-out
▪ The soldiers were ordered to fall out. — compare fall in (above)
fall over backward — see 1backward
fall prey to — see 1prey
fall short 1 : to fail to be as good or successful as expected or hoped for
▪ In comparison to her previous novel, this one falls short. [=this one is not as good] — often + of ▪ Her current book falls short of her previous novel. ▪ The cruise fell short of our expectations. [=the cruise was not as good as we expected it to be] 2 : to fail to reach a goal
▪ Their efforts fell short. — often + of ▪ Their efforts fell (far) short of (achieving) their goal.
▪ In comparison to her previous novel, this one falls short. [=this one is not as good] — often + of ▪ Her current book falls short of her previous novel. ▪ The cruise fell short of our expectations. [=the cruise was not as good as we expected it to be]
▪ Their efforts fell short. — often + of ▪ Their efforts fell (far) short of (achieving) their goal.
fall through [phrasal verb]
: to fail or stop in a sudden or final way
▪ Contract negotiations have fallen through. ▪ Our vacation plans have fallen through.
▪ Contract negotiations have fallen through. ▪ Our vacation plans have fallen through.
fall through/between the cracks — see 2crack
fall through the net — see 1net
fall to pieces — see 1piece
fall under [phrasal verb]
fall under (something) : to be influenced or affected by (something)
▪ He fell under her influence. ▪ fall under a spell ▪ He has fallen under suspicion. [=people have begun to suspect him of doing something]
▪ He fell under her influence. ▪ fall under a spell ▪ He has fallen under suspicion. [=people have begun to suspect him of doing something]
fall victim to — see victim
let the chips fall where they may — see 1chip
