drop like ninepins
drop like ninepins
To succumb to a particular problem, often an illness. This phrase is typically only used when more than one person has been adversely affected. Ninepins is a game that is similar to bowling. Primarily heard in UK. Now that the flu is going through our school, people are dropping like ninepins.
See also: drop, like, ninepin
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.
ˌgo down, ˌdrop, etc. like ˈninepins
(informal)1 (of large numbers of people) become ill/sick, be killed or die at the same time: In last year’s flu epidemic both children and teachers at this school were going down like ninepins. As the enemy advanced, men and horses went down like ninepins.
2 (of businesses, etc.) fail, go out of business, etc: Small businesses are going down like ninepins at the moment.
In the game of ninepins, you roll a ball towards a group of nine wooden objects (= skittles) in order to knock down as many of them as possible.
See also: go, like, ninepin
Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary
- drop like flies
- drop like flies, to
- go down like ninepins
- go down, drop, etc. like ninepins
- ninepin
- be dropping like flies
- fall like ninepins
- die like flies
- die/drop/fall like flies
- best foot forward