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THE IDIOM COLLECTION LEARN & PRACTISE

Fall by the wayside

Understand the meaning. See it in context. Make it yours.

01 / UNDERSTAND

Meaning in plain English

Stop continuing or being used before reaching an intended goal.

02 / SEE IT IN CONTEXT

The expression in a sentence

  1. My plan to practise every morning fell by the wayside during the move.

03 / CHECK YOUR UNDERSTANDING

Quick idiom quiz

Try the question without looking back, then write a sentence of your own. You can retry as often as you like.

Can you recall the expression?

Which expression from this lesson matches this meaning?

Stop continuing or being used before reaching an intended goal.
Show the answer

Fall by the wayside — Stop continuing or being used before reaching an intended goal.

Try your own sentence (optional)

Make it yours

Write one sentence using “Fall by the wayside” about your own life.

Check your sentence

Does your sentence match this meaning?

Stop continuing or being used before reaching an intended goal.

Compare: My plan to practise every morning fell by the wayside during the move.

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GO DEEPER

More ways to understand and use it

When to use it

Use this expression about abandoned plans, habits or participants who do not finish a process. It fits everyday discussion and general writing.

More examples in context

  • Several early designs fell by the wayside as our requirements changed.
  • We need a realistic timetable so the reading group does not fall by the wayside.

Usage note

The past tense is “fell” and the past participle is “fallen”. The phrase suggests that something drops out or is abandoned, rather than a brief planned pause.

A short conversation

A: Are you still keeping a daily journal?
B: It fell by the wayside when work got busy.
A: Maybe start again with just one sentence each evening.

One more practice question

Which plan has fallen by the wayside?

A. A study session that continues successfully every week.
B. A weekly study session that people gradually stop attending.

Check your answer

B. The first plan has stopped being maintained instead of continuing as intended.

Related lessons

Meaning and usage checked against Cambridge Dictionary. Explanations, examples and conversation are original.

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