# fall through the cracks

idiom

Source: https://englishreference.com/idiom/fall-through-the-cracks
Updated: 2026-08-10

## Meaning

To be missed; to escape the necessary notice or attention.

## Examples

- Some emails fall through the cracks when I'm busy.
- The old man lived alone for months until someone noticed he had fallen through the cracks of the social services system.
- In the chaos of the merger, several promising junior employees fell through the cracks, their talents overlooked by managers focused on senior staff.

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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.