break (one's) fall
break (one's) fall
To interrupt, prevent, or soften one's fall, either physically or figuratively. She stumbled off the balcony, but luckily, a hedge below her broke her fall. Be careful not to alienate your friends as you climb to the top of the company, because if things don't work out, you'll have no one there to break your fall.
See also: break, fall
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.
break someone's fall
to cushion a falling person; to lessen the impact of a falling person. When the little boy fell out of the window, the bushes broke his fall. The old lady slipped on the ice, but a snowbank broke her fall.
See also: break, fall
McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs.
break one's fall
Interrupt a tumble or descent, as in It's a long way down over this cliff, with nothing to break your fall. [Mid-1800s]
See also: break, fall
The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer.
- break fall
- break one's fall
- fall to pieces
- fall from grace
- fall from grace, to
- fall by the wayside
- fall by the wayside, to
- fall off
- fallen
- slide over