A plan that fails to happen

The idea

In neutral everyday English, fall through means that a plan or agreement fails to happen. Its past is fell through. It has no direct object and cannot be split.

Examples

• The concert fell through when the venue closed.
• Our travel plans fell through last spring.
• The sale may fall through without a loan.
• Their partnership fell through after months of talks.
• If the booking falls through, we can meet online.
• The proposal fell through because funding was withdrawn.

Watch out

A person can withdraw, but the plan itself falls through; do not put an object between the two words.

Try it yourself

1. Choose the correct option. The exhibition ___ through last week. (fell / falls)

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   fell

   fell places the failed arrangement in the past.

2. Choose the correct option. The proposed merger might fall ___. (through / across)

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   through

   through completes the expression about a failed plan.

3. Choose the correct option. If the agreement ___, we will seek another supplier. (falls through / carries out)

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   falls through

   falls through agrees with the singular subject and describes the plan failing.

Use it today

Describe a plan that did not happen and explain why.