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fall on

B2 neutral inseparable transitive
In simple words

To land on something, to jump on something eagerly, or to be something that you have to deal with.

Literal meaning: To fall from above and land upon a surface.

Meanings

1 A2 neutral

To hit or land on a surface or person after falling.

"A branch fell on the car during the storm, denting the roof badly."

Grammar: inseparable
2 B2 idiomatic neutral

To be someone's duty or responsibility.

"When both parents are working, the task of cooking often falls on the older children."

Grammar: inseparable
3 B2 idiomatic informal

To eagerly attack or grab something, especially food.

"The children fell on the birthday cake the moment it was set on the table."

Grammar: inseparable
4 B1 idiomatic neutral

Of a date or event: to occur on a particular day.

"Christmas falls on a Wednesday this year, which means the bank holiday shifts to Friday."

Grammar: inseparable
Usage notes

Has several distinct senses. The 'responsibility' sense ('the burden falls on me') is very common in formal and neutral contexts. The 'attack eagerly' sense ('fall on the food') is informal. The 'occur on a date' sense is common in scheduling.

Commonly used with

deaf ears responsibility burden shoulders food enemy date Tuesday

Forms

Base
fall on
I/you/we/they
3rd person
falls on
he/she/it
Past simple
fell on
yesterday
Past participle
fallen on
have + pp
-ing form
falling on
continuous

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Synonyms

land on attack befall be the responsibility of descend on pounce on

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