When a plan falls through
The idiom can describe an outing, a meeting or a concert. It means the event will not go ahead as planned.
The reason comes from the context. Moving day can fall through because of a broken elevator, just as a trip can fall through because of a strike.
Die Generalprobe fällt ins Wasser, weil der Saal kurzfristig gesperrt wurde.
The dress rehearsal is canceled because the hall was closed at short notice.
The cancellation has nothing to do with weather here.
The plan is the subject
In Das Treffen fällt ins Wasser, das Treffen is the subject. For multiple meetings, use Die Treffen fallen ins Wasser.
Ins is short for in das. The perfect tense takes sein and gefallen: Der Ausflug ist ins Wasser gefallen.
Unser Picknick ist wegen des Gewitters ins Wasser gefallen.
Our picnic was canceled because of the thunderstorm.
Even if rain is involved, the picnic is the plan that fell through.
Ins Wasser fallen or auf Eis legen?
Der Termin fällt ins Wasser focuses on the outcome: the event won’t happen at that time. A new date can still be arranged later.
Wir legen das Vorhaben auf Eis says someone is deliberately shelving the plan. The words give no promise of a new date.
Ohne die Genehmigung könnten beide Straßenfeste ins Wasser fallen.
Without the permit, both street festivals could fall through.
Könnten presents the cancellation as a possibility.
Everyday conversations
Dialogue about a canceled class
Lena tells Mo why the planned event won’t take place.
- Lena
Der Kochkurs am Samstag fällt leider ins Wasser.
Unfortunately, Saturday’s cooking class is canceled.
- Mo
Was ist passiert?
What happened?
- Lena
Es haben sich zu wenige Leute angemeldet.
Too few people signed up.
- Mo
Dann frage ich, ob wir in den Kurs im nächsten Monat wechseln können.
Then I’ll ask if we can switch to next month’s class.
Usage note
In an official notice, Der Termin findet nicht statt makes the cancellation explicit. The idiom fits when you tell someone in conversation that a plan fell through.
Three practice tasks
Try each task before opening the explanation.
What does Der Kurs fällt ins Wasser mean?
Answer and explanation
Der Kurs findet nicht statt.
The planned event won’t go ahead.
Complete the perfect tense: Das Treffen ___ ins Wasser ___.
Answer and explanation
ist / gefallen
The perfect tense of fallen here is ist gefallen.
The team decides to put an ongoing project on hold. Which statement expresses that decision?
Answer and explanation
Das Team legt das laufende Projekt auf Eis.
Auf Eis legen describes deliberately putting the project on hold.
What to remember
Ins Wasser fallen means a plan falls through. Auf Eis legen emphasizes deliberately putting a project or plan on hold.