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

The plan fell at the first hurdle when they couldn't get planning permission. His diet fell at the first hurdle - lasted three hours. We can't afford to fall at the first hurdle.

fall at the first hurdle

Q: What does "fall at the first hurdle" mean?

fail at the earliest stage To fail at the very beginning of an attempt, like a horse falling at the first jump in a race.

Slang Term BritishAustralian Unknown Neutral

Meaning: fail at the earliest stage

在最初阶段就失败

Fracasar en la primera etapa, caer en el primer obstáculo.

最初の段階で失敗する

첫 단계에서 실패하다

To fail at the very beginning of an attempt, like a horse falling at the first jump in a race.

在尝试的最初阶段就失败了，就像赛马在第一个障碍处就摔倒。

Fracasar en el mismísimo comienzo de un intento, como un caballo que cae en el primer salto de una carrera.

挑戦の最初の段階で失敗すること。競馬で最初の障害で馬が転倒するイメージが語源。

시도의 맨 처음 단계에서 실패하는 것. 경마에서 말이 첫 번째 장애물에서 넘어지는 것에서 유래.

Examples

The plan fell at the first hurdle when they couldn't get planning permission.
计划在拿不到规划许可时就在第一步栽了跟头。
El plan fracasó en el primer obstáculo: no obtuvieron el permiso de obras.
計画は許可が下りず、最初の段階でつまずいた。
계획은 허가를 받지 못해 첫 단계에서 좌절됐다.
His diet fell at the first hurdle - lasted three hours.
他的节食在第一步就失败了——只坚持了三个小时。
Su dieta fracasó desde el principio: duró tres horas.
彼のダイエットは最初からつまずいた。3時間しか持たなかった。
그의 다이어트는 첫 단계부터 실패했다. 3시간밖에 못 버텼다.
We can't afford to fall at the first hurdle.
我们不能在第一步就失败。
No podemos permitirnos fallar en el primer obstáculo.
最初の段階で失敗するわけにはいかない。
첫 단계에서 실패할 수는 없다.

Pronunciation

Usage Guide

Context: casual, frustrated

Tone: disappointed

✓ Do Say

Describe early failure
描述早期的失败
describir un fracaso temprano
初期の失敗を表す
초기 단계의 실패를 묘사할 때

✗ Don't Say

For later failures
不用于后期的失败
Para fracasos en etapas posteriores
後の段階での失敗には使わない
나중 단계에서의 실패에는 사용하지 않음

Origin & History

From horse racing and athletics. Falling at the first hurdle means failing before really getting started.

Cultural Context

Era: timeless

Generation: all ages

Social background: all