false step

false step

1. Literally, a misstep or stumble while one is walking. I took a false step on the mountain path and nearly went tumbling over a cliff!
2. By extension, an unwise, miscalculated, or blundering act or decision. We made a few false steps while setting up our business that nearly ruined our endeavor altogether. It seems now that the president's decision might have been something of a false step.
See also: false, step
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.

false step

A stumble or blunder, as in Making a down payment without securing a mortgage was clearly a false step. This term transfers physical stumbling or tripping to other enterprises. [c. 1700]
See also: false, step
The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer.
See also:
  • make a false step
  • base over apex
  • trip on
  • trip on (someone or something)
  • trip along
  • tumble down
  • lose (one's) footing
  • stumble
  • literally
  • sooner
References in periodicals archive
The current economic picture is bleak to be sure, but a false step at this point would result in disastrous consequences that will be felt beyond the term of this government, for generations to come.
A false step would most likely not get one to his destination.
Mike Scott took a false step toward Lopez and the lane was wide open for a LaVine layup and foul.
Yet to be asked for any sort of effort, it all looked plain sailing for Spin The Coin until he took a false step and crumpled on landing over the last.
And yes, England's World Cup is only two matches' old and, yes, they needed a very late winner against Tunisia and, yes, dispatched a Panama side performing like a pub team but there has barely been a false step from Southgate.
Jurgen Klopp growls as Liverpool take a false step ahead of Roma clash
BRUSSELS, Feb 26 (KUNA) -- EU High Representative Federica Mogherini warned Monday that any "false step" regarding the Middle East Peace Process and the status of Jerusalem could strengthen the hand of radicals in the region or even spark a religious war.
Sensing the welling up mood of the Nepali masses, some sections became aware of their false step which, if not amended, would boomerang badly against their electoral prospects in the days ahead.
On her travels, someone advised her that writing can be a little like rock climbing: exhilarating, to be sure, but one false step and all is lost.
We expect this false step to be reversed as soon as possible," he added.
However, just over three furlongs out as Seamie Heffernan angled for a run on Aidan O'Brien's colt, he appeared to take a false step, went down on his knees and fired his rider into the ground.
With one false step, she could fall into anorexia or bulimia.
I had to use both hands to carry the tree, which meant I could not steady myself on the banister, which further meant that one false step and I would be immortalised in headlines such as "NEEDLE-LESS TRAGEDY: DAD KILLED BY CHRISTMAS" and "This complete idiot tried to carry a Christmas tree down four flights of stairs.
You can walk around it for 7km or just sit on the edge to look down at near darkness but one false step could see you plummeting hundreds of metres below.
"If it's one false step, it becomes an arm tackle for Royce, or as we saw last night, Kani, Tony James, Taj all getting better and better.