ninepin

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

fall like ninepins

To succumb to a particular problem. This phrase is typically only used when more than one person has been adversely affected. Ninepins is a game similar to bowling. Primarily heard in UK. Now that the flu is going through our school, people are falling like ninepins.
See also: fall, like, ninepin

go down 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 going down like ninepins.
See also: down, go, like, ninepin
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.

fall like ninepins

or

go down like ninepins

or

drop like ninepins

BRITISH, OLD-FASHIONED
If people or things fall like ninepins, go down like ninepins or drop like ninepins, a lot of them are very quickly injured, killed or destroyed. Sgt Russell Smith, 35, told of his terror at seeing officers `falling like ninepins'. There was a time when Liverpool players never seemed to get injured, but now they're going down like ninepins. Note: Ninepins are skittles.
See also: fall, like, ninepin
Collins COBUILD Idioms Dictionary, 3rd ed.

go down (or drop or fall) like ninepins

topple or succumb in large numbers.
1994 Beryl Gilroy Sunlight on Sweet Water They were falling like ninepins to the wizardry of our fast bowler, Bachan.
See also: down, go, like, ninepin
Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary

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
See also:
  • drop like flies
  • drop like flies, to
  • drop like ninepins
  • go down like ninepins
  • go down, drop, etc. like ninepins
  • be dropping like flies
  • fall like ninepins
  • die like flies
  • die/drop/fall like flies
  • (one's) best foot forward
References in periodicals archive
On that occasion seeds fell like ninepins, with many fancied contenders clearly ill at ease with the alterations thrust on them.
Bowls: 5-1 Marshall matters
Bemused boss Francis watched his players fall like ninepins in this one.
FOOTBALL: OUT OF THE BLUE, TREV IS STUNNED; Birmingham..0 Preston............1: Edwards lands sucker punch
Track records fell like ninepins at the gala and Clemenson's Droopys Candice (8-1) started the trend when landing the Tommy Judge Memorial Puppies over 515 metres, clocking 27.67sec.
Micks set to go up to six bends
Former Irish hurdler Ninepins, now a 13-year-old, is another
Breeders' Cup Chase attracts 12
While British fans were being felled like ninepins, she was nowhere to be seen.
Routledge: Jack's boxer tricks
STEP forward the Ninepins Club, which has won our investment clubs competItion for the SECOND time.
NINEPINS GO DOWN WELL; Club scoops pounds 1,000 in our share contest
Mann said: "Celibate is very clever and handled these different fences most competently-certainly better than the US horse Ninepins, who didn't look good this morning.
Japan: British duo in shape for the Grand Jump
The group, who formed the Ninepins investment club in August last year, share our pounds 1,000 prize.
WE'RE PIN THE MONEY; Investors take a step in the right direction
Now the son of two accomplished athletes left his mark on his debut IPL season for Rajasthan Royals, producing two match-winning knocks in nail-biting chases and making a half-century in a game that saw his experienced teammates fall like ninepins.
IPL sensation Riyan keeps his feet on the ground
As I write this, Tory cabinet ministers are falling like ninepins - and it may get worse over the coming weeks and months as the document is scrutinised and dissected.
Chaos in the country as Scotland gets no leeway
They were bumped off like ninepins in bundles of 10.
Victoria Cross hero's uniform in pride of place
-- which scatters the black blobs like so many ninepins. I can't exactly recommend the film on the basis of half-a-dozen neat visual moments, but they do offer some compensation.
Film review: The Nun **
Going down like ninepins is not new for our cricket team.
Falling like ninepins
LEAGUE records fell like ninepins in the second round of fixtures of the North East Youth Development League, writes BILL McGUIRK.
North's track and field record-breakers prove a League apart; JUNIOR ATHLETICS
Thanks to the Orange Train and it's senseless, borderline lunatic decimation of Lahore's cultural heritage, our buildings and monuments are already falling like ninepins to bulldozers.
By any other name