# fall at the last hurdle

idiom

Source: https://englishreference.com/idiom/fall-at-the-last-hurdle
Updated: 2026-08-10

## Meaning

To fail near the end of an activity, a project, etc.

## Examples

- They worked hard but fell at the last hurdle.
- I usually fall at the last hurdle because I lose my focus.
- The team played well all season, but they fell at the last hurdle during the final championship game.
- The baker spent hours on the wedding cake but fell at the last hurdle when the decorations collapsed while he was moving it.
- After months of meticulous preparation, the candidate unfortunately fell at the last hurdle when she failed to answer the final interview question.

## Origin

Probably derived from the sport of hurdling, a form of horse racing in which the animal is required to jump over wooden obstacles. The phrase describes the specific misfortune of a horse that successfully clears every preceding barrier only to collapse or trip at the final jump. While the precise date of its idiomatic adoption is not recorded, the term draws directly from the physical mechanics of the racecourse, where the proximity of the finish line renders a failure at the terminal obstacle a particularly public inconvenience. (disputed)

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.