1. (

• fall_through ,
• fall_flat ,
• founder ,
• flop

) fail utterly; collapse; "The project foundered" ;

2. (

• founder ,

) sink below the surface ;

3. (

• collapse ,
• fall_in ,
• cave_in ,
• give ,
• give_way ,
• break ,
• founder

) break down, literally or metaphorically; "The wall collapsed"; "The business collapsed"; "The dam broke"; "The roof collapsed"; "The wall gave in"; "The roof finally gave under the weight of the ice" ;

4. (

• founder ,

) stumble and nearly fall; "the horses foundered" ;