ENGLISH
REFERENCE

fall between the cracks

idiom
Meaning

To wind up in an unexpected situation which is, inadvertently, invisible to or not handled by whatever process one had hoped to be subject to; to be overlooked.


Examples
SIMPLE

Important documents often fall between the cracks in this office.

CONTEXTUAL

Because the new policy was poorly communicated, several urgent requests fell between the cracks and were never processed.

COMPLEX

Despite the implementation of rigorous oversight protocols, the most vulnerable citizens frequently fall between the cracks of an increasingly fragmented social welfare system.

Anchors to
Related idioms8entries
  1. 01

    fall apart

    To be emotionally in crisis.

  2. 02

    fall around

    To fall over continually, especially through drunkenness, clumsiness, or incompetence.

  3. 03

    fall asleep

    To be affected by paresthesia; to go numb.

  4. 04

    fall at the last hurdle

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

  5. 05

    fall behind

    To be late (for a regular event)

  6. 06

    fall between two stools

    To fit into neither of two categories and, hence, be neglected or fail.

  7. 07

    fall by the wayside

    To fail to be completed, particularly for lack of interest; to be left out, to suffer from neglect.

  8. 08

    fall for

    To be fooled by; to walk into (a trap) or respond to (a scam or trick).

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