fall at the first hurdle

Definition & Meaning of "[fall] at the first (hurdle|fence)"

to fall at the first hurdle

to fail or encounter difficulties at the beginning of a task or process, before any significant progress has been made

What is the origin of the idiom "fall at the first hurdle" and when to use it?

The origin of the idiom "fall at the first hurdle" is thought to come from the sport of horse racing, where a hurdle is a barrier that horses must jump over during a race. If a horse fails to clear the first hurdle, it is considered to have fallen at the first hurdle and is unlikely to win the race. Over time, the phrase has come to be used more generally to describe any situation where someone fails at the first obstacle or challenge, whether it be in a sporting context or not.

fall at the final hurdle

Definition & Meaning of "[fall] at the (final|last) (hurdle|fence)"

to fall at the final hurdle

PHRASE

to encounter failure or difficulties just before reaching the end or achieving a goal

to [fall] at the (final|last) (hurdle|fence) definition and meaning

What is the origin of the idiom "fall at the final hurdle" and when to use it?

The origin of the idiom "fall at the final hurdle" is similar to that of "fall at the first hurdle," which is believed to come from horse racing. In this case, however, the phrase may have originated from track and field events, where runners would have to jump over a series of hurdles before reaching the finish line. If a runner fell while attempting to clear the last hurdle, they would have "fallen at the final hurdle," costing them the race. Over time, the phrase has come to be used more generally to describe any situation where someone fails just before reaching their goal, often after an extended period of hard work or effort.

Example

The student fell at the first fence of the exam by spending too much time on the first question and not leaving enough time for the rest.

The team's plan to launch a new product fell at the first hurdle when they realized they didn't have the necessary funding to bring it to market.

The athlete fell at the first hurdle of the race, ending his chances of winning a medal.

I was hoping to learn how to play the guitar, but I fell at the first fence when I realized how difficult it was to even hold the instrument correctly.