fall by the wayside

Definition & Meaning of "[fall|drop] by the wayside"

to fall by the wayside

to fail to keep on doing something

to [fall|drop] by the wayside definition and meaning

to not have the same importance or urgency as something else

What is the origin of the idiom "fall by the wayside" and when to use it?

The idiom "fall by the wayside" originated from the practice of traveling along a path or road. In this metaphorical sense, it refers to someone or something being left behind or abandoned during a journey or process. The phrase is used to suggest that the person or thing in question fails to keep up or maintain the same level of importance, relevance, or progress as others.

Example

The political campaign began with numerous candidates, but as the race progressed, several contenders dropped by the wayside due to low poll numbers or scandals.

During the pursuit of higher education, some students struggle to keep up with the demands of their studies and eventually fall by the wayside, opting to drop out of school.

Many of her colleagues had fallen by the wayside.

When the company faced financial difficulties, several projects had to be discontinued, and some employees fell by the wayside as a result of downsizing.