English Idioms
Comprehensive resource for understanding and mastering English idioms
Come a cropper
Meaning
The idiom "come a cropper" means to fail miserably or suffer a great defeat, often involving unexpected events or circumstances that lead to the downfall of an individual, group, or organization. It can also imply taking a mistake or misstep that leads to failure.
Usage
- When the company's new product launch failed to gain traction in the market, it was said they had come a cropper.
- The basketball player's surprise loss in the championship game left him feeling like he had come a cropper.
- After making a critical mistake on their job, the employee knew they had come a cropper with their colleagues and superiors.
- The entrepreneur's failed attempt to secure funding for his start-up left him feeling like he had come a cropper.
- In the end, the political campaign came a cropper when the leader was found guilty of corruption charges. The usage of "come a cropper" can vary depending on the context. For example, it can be used to describe a personal failure or a larger organizational failure. The idiom can also indicate unexpected events that lead to the downfall of an individual or group.
Roots and History
The origin of "come a cropper" is unclear, but it's believed to have originated in the agricultural industry in England during the 18th century. A cropper was a device used to mechanically cut down crops such as wheat and barley. If the cropper failed to work properly, the crops could be damaged or destroyed, leading to a financial loss for the farmer. The idiom likely evolved from this idea of failure in agriculture. Over time, "come a cropper" has been applied to other industries and situations beyond farming.
Synonyms in English
- "come a cropper" in English include fail, fall flat on one's face, let down, come unstuck, and botch up.
Synonyms in other languages
- In Spanish, "fallar" or "dar en falta" are similar in meaning to "fail".
- In French, "avoir échoué" translates to "failed".
- In German, "misglückt" means "unsuccessful".
- In Italian, "aver fallito" or "essersi rovinato" mean "failed" or "ruined oneself", respectively.
- In Dutch, "mislukkig zijn" translates to "to fail".