[fall] at the first (hurdle|fence)
1
to fail or encounter difficulties at the beginning of a task or process, before any significant progress has been made
The origin of the idiom "fall at the first hurdle" is thought to come from the sport of horse racing, where a hurdle is a barrier that horses must jump over during a race. If a horse fails to clear the first hurdle, it is considered to have fallen at the first hurdle and is unlikely to win the race. Over time, the phrase has come to be used more generally to describe any situation where someone fails at the first obstacle or challenge, whether it be in a sporting context or not.
- I was hoping to learn how to play the guitar, but I fell at the first fence when I realized how difficult it was to even hold the instrument correctly.
- The athlete fell at the first hurdle of the race, ending his chances of winning a medal.
- The new restaurant fell at the first hurdle when it received a terrible review in the local newspaper, causing a sharp drop in business.
- The student fell at the first fence of the exam by spending too much time on the first question and not leaving enough time for the rest.
- The team's plan to launch a new product fell at the first hurdle when they realized they didn't have the necessary funding to bring it to market.