The wheels fall off

Definition & Meaning of "the wheels [fall off|come off]"

the wheels fall off

used to refer to something that was working or progressing well but suddenly stopped functioning or fell apart

What is the origin of the idiom "the wheels fall off" and when to use it?

The origin of the idiom "the wheels fall off" is related to the malfunction of a car or other vehicle, where if a wheel becomes loose or falls off, the vehicle will quickly become immobile and unable to function as intended. Over time, the phrase has come to be used more generally to describe any situation where a plan, project, or situation that was previously successful suddenly fails or falls apart completely.

Example

But then the wheels came off the bus in the final season, and now it's often derided as one of the most disappointing finales of all time.

The team was leading the game, but when their star player was injured, the wheels fell off and they lost by a large margin.

The company's financial situation was looking stable, but when a major investor pulled out, the wheels came off and the company went bankrupt.

The team was looking primed for a championship run at the start of the season, but after their goal keeper went out with an injury, the wheels came off the wagon.