Word
cropper
Phoneticscrop·per, stress on the first syllable
US/ˈkɹɑpɝ/
UK/kɹˈɒpɐ/
Definitions
01farm worker
C1 · Advanced Countable noun Agriculture
n. a person who grows crops on a farm, especially fruit and vegetables
n. a person who grows or harvests crops; in US history, often short for 'sharecropper', a tenant farmer who paid rent with a share of the harvest
“The cropper sold his apples at the market.”
“After years of drought, the cropper had to sell his land and find work in the city.”
02come a cropper
C2 · Proficiency Countable noun British English · Informal
n. used in the British phrase 'come a cropper': to fall over hard, or to fail suddenly and completely
n. in the idiom 'come a cropper' (British, informal): to suffer a heavy physical fall, originally from a horse; figuratively, to fail badly or suffer a sudden, complete defeat
“He came a cropper on the icy steps outside the shop.”
“The ambitious politician came a cropper when leaked emails revealed his backroom dealings, ending his campaign within a week.”
Usage
In the compound verb phrase "come a cropper," the article is fixed and the expression is intransitive.
Real-World Examples
“Hapless visitors came a cropper after following sat nav to notorious Welsh beach” “A gate lock was broken with bolt croppers, NRW said, and signs were "torn down" to enable the vehicles to gain access, despite "clear signage" stating that private vehicles were not permitted.” Etymology
From the phrase come a cropper, itself of uncertain origin — possibly from the verb crop in its sense of cutting or harvesting, with a cropper being one who receives the cut.
From crop + -er, a formation in reference to a bird's crop.
From crop + -er, either the occupational suffix (one who works with crops) or the relational suffix (that which pertains to crops), first attested in reference to agricultural crops.
From crop + -er, the agent noun suffix attached to the verb.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Idioms
01. come a cropper
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.C2 ProficiencyIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.8.5–9.0TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 6.0114–120
- Frequency
- Occasional
- Level
- C2 · Proficiency
- Updated
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