What does "Fall at the first hurdle" mean?

To fail at the very beginning of an attempt. To fail immediately, before making any real progress. From horse racing over hurdles.

How do you use "Fall at the first hurdle" in a sentence?

His business plan fell at the first hurdle. We can't afford to fall at the first hurdle. The project fell at the first hurdle when funding was denied.

Fall at the first hurdle

Slang Term BritishAustralian ★★★★☆ Common Neutral

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Meaning: To fail at the very beginning of an attempt.

在尝试的最初阶段就失败。

Fracasar al principio mismo de un intento.

挑戦の最初の段階で失敗すること。

도전의 가장 첫 단계에서 실패하다.

To fail immediately, before making any real progress. From horse racing over hurdles.

在取得任何实质进展之前就失败了。源自跨栏赛马。

Fracasar inmediatamente, antes de hacer ningún progreso real. De las carreras de caballos con vallas.

実質的な進展を遂げる前に、すぐに失敗すること。障害物競走の馬術から。

실질적인 진전을 이루기도 전에 바로 실패하는 것. 장애물 경마에서 유래한 표현.

Literal meaning: Trip over the first obstacle in a race

Examples

His business plan fell at the first hurdle.
他的商业计划在第一关就失败了
Su plan de negocio falló en el primer obstáculo
彼の事業計画は最初でつまずいた
그의 사업 계획은 첫 단계에서 좌절했다.
We can't afford to fall at the first hurdle.
我们不能在第一关就失败
No podemos permitirnos fallar en el primer obstáculo
最初でつまずくわけにはいかない
첫 단계에서 넘어질 수는 없다.
The project fell at the first hurdle when funding was denied.
项目因未获资金而在第一关就失败了
El proyecto falló en el primer obstáculo cuando se denegó la financiación
資金が得られずプロジェクトは最初でつまずいた
자금 조달이 거부되면서 프로젝트는 첫 단계에서 좌절했다.

Pronunciation

/fɔːl æt ðə fɜːst ˈhɜːdl/

Usage Guide

Context: early failure, initial setback, beginning

Tone: disappointed, critical

✓ Do Say

Fell at the first hurdle.
在第一关就失败了
Falló en el primer obstáculo
最初でつまずいた
첫 단계에서 넘어졌어
Can't fall at the first hurdle.
不能在第一关就失败
No puede fallar en el primer obstáculo
最初でつまずくわけにはいかない
첫 단계에서 넘어지면 안 돼
Don't fall at the first hurdle.
别在第一关就失败
No falles en el primer obstáculo
最初でつまずくな
첫 관문에서 넘어지지 마

✗ Don't Say

Failed immediately
Failed immediately（立刻失败了）
Failed immediately (fracasó de inmediato)
Failed immediately（すぐに失敗した）
Failed immediately (바로 실패했다)
Failed at the start
Failed at the start（一开始就失败了）
Failed at the start (fracasó desde el principio)
Failed at the start（最初に失敗した）
Failed at the start (처음부터 실패했다)

Common Mistakes

British expression mainly
Implies embarrassingly early failure

Origin & History

From horse racing—falling at the first hurdle/jump.

Etymology: British, from horse racing

First recorded: 20th century

Cultural Context

Era: Modern

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal

Pop culture: Horse racing; Sports commentary

Regional notes: British and Australian expression.

Variations

Fall at the first hurdleFell at the first hurdleFirst hurdle