fall at the final hurdle

fall at the final hurdle

To fail to accomplish some task or goal at the very end of the attempt. Negotiations between the two warring countries fell at the final hurdle due to disagreements over cross-border taxation.
See also: fall, final, hurdle
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.
See also:
  • hurdle
  • fall at the last hurdle
  • fall at the first hurdle
  • group
  • a committee is a group of men who keep minutes and waste hours
  • stick at nothing
  • rise to the challenge
  • rise to the occasion/challenge
  • do (something) blindfolded
  • do blindfolded
References in periodicals archive
But Ivan Rakitic's wife Raquel may be one of the few hoping the nation fall at the final hurdle after the Barcelona ace revealed his plan for a bizarre celebration.
Winning ink sounds Ivan the Terrible
UNDER-19 EUROPEAN CHAMPIONSHIP FINAL: PORTUGAL v ENGLAND Eurosport 1, 5pm By Dan Childs ENGLAND'S UNDER-19S have had a great time at the European Championship but they may fall at the final hurdle when facing Portugal in Gori.
Young Lions could run out of steam
"We've achieved so much to get here, so the boys don't want to fall at the final hurdle."
Woods going in for Kil again on Blue Brazil
OVER the course of the season we've touched a lot on Hibs' uncanny ability to fall at the final hurdle and we are yet to be proven wrong.
Bookies'View
The Oranje made it all the way to the final in South Africa in 2010, only to fall at the final hurdle as Andres Iniesta's extra-time goal secured Spain a 1-0 win.
Wes: Oranje can go all the way
According to Sport24, there was disappointment for Ferrer, who had come through an awkward draw to beat Gael Monfils, Jerzy Janowicz and Nicolas Almagro only to fall at the final hurdle.
Youzhny beats Ferrer in straight sets to win Valencia Open
As recently as two years ago Sacriston led the NTSL title race into the last round of fixtures only to fall at the final hurdle, but they are hoping for a much different outcome this time around.
SACRISTON SO CLOSE TO TITLE GLORY; NEPL DIVISION 1
Coventry Plumbing and Heating Blaze coach Paul Thompson is urging his side to T play for the full 60 minutes after seeing two possible wins on the road fall at the final hurdle in the past week.
Boss wants full hour from Blaze
Four years after the relaunch, Van der Sar was part of an Ajax side that became one of three on the trot to fall at the final hurdle, beaten on penalties by Juventus 12 months after AC Milan had been overcome.
Case for defence
MARATHON man Tony Pulis is running himself into the ground to ensure Stoke do not fall at the final hurdle.
PULIS HAS RUN DRY
City will have to pay around pounds 1million in compensation to acquire McLeish, who saw Scotland fall at the final hurdle in their bid to reach the Euro 2008 finals by losing at home to Italy.
Scots' boss McLeish is Brummies target
Kanias, pictured, who left the Vale in July this year to form the Welsh Karate Collective with Bo Channon, came within a whisker of the gold medal in the Kata, only to fall at the final hurdle against British number one Jonathan Mottram.
Kanias secures a silver lining
He was sent off a hot favourite at Kempton but was in second place behind Contraband when taking a heavy fall at the final hurdle. Pitman has given Dempsey (2.20) plenty of time to get over that run and reports his gelding in fine trim for the opening novice hurdle.
Racing: Dempsey set for knockout
At 1-3 the odds for finishing first or second, it makes him around a 13-8 chance just to fall at the final hurdle.
DARTS: DARTS
Having seen his side fall at the final hurdle in the past three seasons, Woodward believes his team are ready to take the top prize.
Rugby Union: Dublin showdown's a '50-50 call'