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Come to Grief

What Does "Come to Grief" Mean?

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"Come to grief" is an English idiom. It means "to end or result in failure, trouble, or disaster."

Examples in Sentences

Here are three examples of the idiom "come to grief" used in a sentence:
  • His risky investments finally came to grief.
  • If you speed on this icy road, you're sure to come to grief.
  • Many ambitious projects come to grief due to lack of planning.
meaning for come to grief

What Is an Idiom?

An idiom is a commonly used expression whose meaning does not relate to the literal meaning of its words. In other words, if you were to translate "Come to Grief" word for word, there is no guarantee the translation would help you to understand the meaning.

An idiom often includes a cultural or historical context that makes it difficult for non-native English speakers to understand. A phrase is classified as an idiom when a direct translation of the words does not reveal the meaning. Most idioms rely on shared knowledge or experiences known only to a specific community.

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