Language: en
Meaning: (intransitive,idiomatic)Tofailnear theendof anactivity, aproject, etc.Synonyms:fall at the final hurdle,fall at the lastAntonyms:cross the line,go all the way[1990,E[dward] J[ohn] Kenney, “Introduction”, inApuleius, edited by E. J. Kenney,Cupid & Psyche(Cambridge Greek and Latin Classics; Imperial Library), Cambridge, Cambridgeshire; New York, N.Y.:Cambridge University Press, published2001,→ISBN,page14:[W]hen she [Psyche]falls at her last hurdle, it is through her own act, motivated by the identical combination ofcuriositasandsimplicitasthat has been her undoing from the start.]1995, Warren Redman, “A Structure for Listening”, inAchieving Personal Success: An Introduction to Inner Balancing, Calgary, Alta.: Merlin Star Press,→ISBN,page62:Now, at the point of action, it's easy to appear tofall at the last hurdle. In fact, you are unlikely to fail here. If it goes wrong now, it will [be] because you slipped at a previous waterjump and didn't notice the splash you made.1997, Jack Sanger with with Jane Wilson, Bryn Davies,andRoger Whitaker, “Keeping IT in the Family: Computer Games and Families”, inYoung Children, Videos and Computer Games: Issues for Teachers and Parents, London; Bristol, Pa.: The Falmer Press,Taylor & Francis,→ISBN,page82:Mortal Kombat 2 is the sequel to Mortal Kombat.[…]Sub Zero—the mysterious icy ninja, is one of the best fighters out of the brave warriors trying to save earth from the hands of Shao Khan.Fallinghimself alsoat the last hurdleof doing away with Tsung, wants to get his frosty hands on Khan now.1999, Judith Pallot, “Everyday Forces of Resistance to theStolypinReform”, inLand Reform in Russia 1906–1917: Peasant Responses to Stolypin’s Project of Rural Transformation, Oxford, Oxfordshire:Clarendon Press, published2001,→ISBN,page176:[T]he resources of local land settlement commissions could be tied up for many months or years in a continuous process of devising and revising enclosure projects, only for the final project tofall at the last hurdle.2001, Brian Cosgrove, “Sport, Politics and the ‘Other Side’”, inThe Yew Tree at the Head of the Strand, Liverpool:Liverpool University Press,→ISBN,pages143–144:Armagh (and it is one of the most memorable chapters in the history of Gaelic football) were fated tofall at the last hurdlewhen they were beaten by Kerry in the All-Ireland decider.2014, Justyn Rees Larcombe, “Fully Committed”, inTails I Lose: The Compulsive Gambler who Lost His Shirt for Good, Oxford, Oxfordshire: Lion Books,Lion Hudson,→ISBN, part 2 (The Army),page72:I remembered my failed attempt at flying training, how I hadfallen at the last hurdle.2017,Hans van de Ven, “The Battle of Shanghai”, inChina at War: Triumph and Tragedy in the Emergence of the New China, Cambridge, Mass.:Harvard University Press, published2018,→ISBN, part II (Momentous Times),page80:Some units penetrated as far as the last street before the river, but once more poor intelligence, lack of coordination and limited firepower meant that Operation Iron Fistfell at the last hurdle.
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