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3. come to grief

come to grief

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come to grief

Fig. to experience something unpleasant or damaging. In the end, he came to grief because he did not follow instructions.

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come to grief

(slightly formal)

to end badly His career as a lawyer came to grief after he became involved with gamblers.

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come to grief

to suddenly fail in what you are doing, often because you have an accident The Italian champion was in second position when he came to grief on the third lap.

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come to grief

Meet with disaster or failure. For example, The icy runway caused at least one light plane to come to grief. [Mid-1800s]

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come to grief

To meet with disaster; fail.

See also: come, grief