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tele
03-08-2011, 06:13 AM
in reading CN this morning, there is an article about guys getting hit by police motorbikes and etc... but then it says ....one of a number of riders to come a cropper on a day littered with crashes..... What does "to come a cropper" mean?
http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/ls-haedo-abandons-paris-nice-after-police-motorbike-collision
Climb01742
03-08-2011, 06:41 AM
have bad things happen. go off plan. a mistake.

ps: just did a quick search:

http://www.phrases.org.uk/meanings/come-a-cropper.html
harlond
03-08-2011, 08:11 AM
have bad things happen. go off plan. a mistake.

ps: just did a quick search:

http://www.phrases.org.uk/meanings/come-a-cropper.htmlCool site, thanks.
tab123
03-08-2011, 08:35 AM
My favorite use of this phrase comes from a colleague in London. He told a story to a bunch of us Americans (who are generally not familiar with this phrase) about being in New York with his girlfriend. The story ended with "and then we came a cropper on a tandem!" Many of the listeners blushed and thought he had revealed some intimate details. He quickly realized the misunderstanding and then explained the incident on the bike.