# fall through

CEFR B2 · Phrasal verb

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/fall-through
Updated: 2026-10-22

## Definition

to fail to happen or be completed, especially a plan or a deal. You use this when something you expected to work out doesn't happen in the end.

For teachers: to fail to occur or be successfully concluded. Intransitive — the subject is typically an abstract noun representing a plan, agreement, or negotiation.

## Examples

- My weekend plans fell through because I got sick.
- The house sale fell through after the survey revealed significant structural issues with the roof.
- Despite months of intensive diplomatic negotiations, the peace treaty fell through when one party refused to sign the final clause.

## Pitfalls

- Not "The rain fell through our picnic." but "Our picnic fell through because of the rain." — 'Fall through' is intransitive; the plan itself must be the subject, not the cause of the failure.

## Usage notes

- This phrase is intransitive, meaning it does not take a direct object.
- Teaching tip: Contrast this with 'go through' and emphasize that the plan or deal itself must be the subject of the sentence.

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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.