fall flat

His attempts at thoughtfulness fall flat, especially when he attempts On Walden Pond-esque introspection and self-assessment.

In fairness, like glossies anywhere, French tabloids are fallible, prone to playing up alleged trysts that fall flat.

Some of his heavily hyped speeches—such as his Charlotte convention address—fall flat or fall short.

Bills outlining wilderness designation usually fall flat in Congress.

It might also be why Idol is so successful, but the original songs for the finalists fall flat every time.

Then he pitched the mass of stone into the arena and it chanced to fall flat onto the crouching tiger.

Still, all would fall flat and dead if some one were not here to keep them in mind of their duty to us.

"I'd fall flat in the water if I tried it, as sure as the world," the taller girl responded.

The gate totters under the hard driven ram, and the doors fall flat, rent from the hinge.

In other words, fall flat on your face, and stretch out there, with your nose rooting in the ground.