What it means
To come a cropper means to take a proper tumble or end up in a right mess after something goes wrong. You can use it for an actual fall, but also for a plan, performance, or bit of showing off that collapses in a very public, slightly embarrassing way.
Usage examples
"Kev tried to vault the garden gate after the boozer and came a cropper into the wheelie bins, then swaggered off like it was planned."
"He was showing off on the icy steps and came a cropper right in front of the whole bus queue."
"The startup looked unstoppable, then came a cropper the moment the funding dried up."
"She gave it the big one about doing the shortcut in heels, then came a cropper outside the off-licence."
"We thought Dan had the pitch in the bag, but he came a cropper halfway through and started reading the wrong slides."
Where it comes from
It’s an old British phrase from horse riding. Back in the 1800s, if a rider was thrown heavily from a horse, they’d come a cropper. The word links to an older sense of falling on the neck or body in a crumpled heap. From there it spread into everyday talk for any nasty spill or big flop.
