fallen



fall asleep at the wheel

To fail to attend to one's responsibilities or duties; to be inattentive to that which is important or for which one is responsible. Johnson was supposed to make sure the paperwork went through before the deadline, but it looks like he fell asleep at the wheel. Our goalkeeper is such a nincompoop. We would have won that match if he hadn't fallen asleep at the wheel!
See also: asleep, fall, wheel

fall asleep at the switch

To fail to attend to one's responsibilities or duties; to be inattentive to that which is important or for which one is responsible. Johnson was supposed to make sure the paperwork went through before the deadline, but it looks like he fell asleep at the switch. Our goalkeeper is such a nincompoop. We would have won that match if he hadn't fallen asleep at the switch!
See also: asleep, fall, switch

fall under the spell of (someone)

To come under the influence or control of someone because one finds him or her fascinating, enchanting, or seductive. Our son has never acted out like this before. I think he must have fallen under the spell of that new friend of his. Such was the magnitude of her beauty that countless men have fallen under the spell of the duchess.
See also: fall, of, spell

fallen angel

1. An angel who has rebelled against God and has been subsequently cast out of heaven. The Bible describes Lucifer as having become a fallen angel after he desired to become God rather than be a servant of God.
2. In finance, a stock or bond that has drastically declined in value. Try to avoid investing in fallen angels—they may have been highly priced once, but they will never return to their original value.
3. A company or organization that was previously successful but is currently failing. The high school's debate team was this year's fallen angel, losing all of their competitions after being dominant last year.
See also: angel, fallen

fallen idol

Someone who is no longer respected or admired. He was so popular and loved when he was a young actor, but now that he is approaching middle age, he's a fallen idol. Nobody even talks about him anymore.
See also: fallen, idol

fallen woman

dated A woman who has lost respect because of engaging in premarital sex. Many cultures still consider females who engage in sex before they are married as fallen women and advise men against becoming involved with them.
See also: fallen, woman

How the mighty have fallen.

Prov. a jovial or mocking way of remarking that someone is doing something that he or she used to consider very demeaning. Jill: Ever since Fred's wife left him, he has had to cook his own meals. Jane: Well! How the mighty have fallen! When Dan lost his money, he had to sell his expensive sports car. Now he drives an ugly old sedan. How the mighty have fallen.
See also: fallen, have, how, mighty

a fallen angel

a company or sports team that was successful in the past but is not successful now (usually plural) Derby County were this season's fallen angels, being sent into the Second Division after losing all their matches.
See also: angel, fallen

a fallen idol

a person who was admired in the past but who is not admired any more Highly respected during his lifetime, he became a fallen idol after his death when his research was found to be full of errors.
See also: fallen, idol

a fallen woman

  (old-fashioned)
a woman who is not respected any more because she had sex without being married Many fallen women were forced to work as prostitutes, some were shut away in asylums.
See also: fallen, woman

Common Names:

NameGenderPronouncedUsage
Medeamə-DEE-ə (English)Greek Mythology (Latinized), Georgian
Bishan-Indian, Hindi
Jeriah-Biblical
OrpheusAWR-fee-əs (English)Greek Mythology
Silouanos-Biblical Greek
Medusamə-DOO-sə (English)Greek Mythology (Latinized)