fall into place

The phrase fall into place is often used in English, but what does this idiom mean? When idioms are used in the right situations, they strengthen communication and enrich the language. You can communicate more effectively by learning the meaning of fall into place.

Meaning of "fall into place"

Meaning

To "fall into place" is a popular idiom used to describe a situation in which all the elements come together to form a complete and successful outcome. In other words, when all the pieces of a puzzle or plan fit perfectly together, it has "fallen into place". This phrase can be used either literally or figuratively to indicate that a situation has been resolved and a plan has gone as expected or gone smoothly.

Etymology

The exact origin of the phrase is unknown, however, it is likely to have originated sometime in the late 19th century. The phrase was first recorded in 1902 in a book by American author Justin Huntly McCarthy called, A Soldier of Fortune.

Usage

The phrase "fall into place" is used as both a verb and an idiom, and can refer to any situation that has been successful or has gone as planned. It can also be used to describe a situation that has suddenly come together unexpectedly or with little to no effort on the part of the person or people involved.

Example Sentences

• The pieces of the puzzle just seemed to fall into place.
• We were very lucky that everything fell into place and the project was completed on time.
• We had a difficult time getting everything organized, but eventually it all fell into place.
• As soon as we had a plan of action, everything fell into place.

The Global Spread of English Idioms

As English has become a global language, its idioms have spread far beyond the borders of the UK and USA. For instance, the idiom "beat around the bush" has equivalents in many other languages, such as "tourner autour du pot" in French and "dar vueltas al asunto" in Spanish. Meanwhile, other idioms have been adapted for local contexts, such as the Russian idiom "?? ???? ???????" (ne svoya rubashka), which translates to "not one's own shirt," meaning to be in an uncomfortable or unfamiliar situation.