Fall From Grace
Pedagogically reviewed by LexFizz Team
To lose favour, status, or moral standing — to go from a respected position to disgrace.
Quick meaning: To fall from grace is to lose the respect, approval, or high standing you once enjoyed, often because of a mistake or scandal. A politician caught lying, for example, may fall from grace in the eyes of the public.
Meaning
When someone is said to fall from grace, it means they have lost the favour, prestige, or moral reputation they previously held. They go from being admired, trusted, or powerful to being criticised, distrusted, or disgraced. The phrase implies a noticeable descent — the person had a high position to fall from.
The expression is often applied to public figures: celebrities, politicians, sports stars, or business leaders whose reputations collapse after a scandal, failure, or revelation of wrongdoing. It can also be used in everyday contexts, such as an employee who once was the manager’s favourite but lost that standing after a serious error.
The phrase carries a sense of drama and moral judgement. It suggests not just a loss of status but a loss of esteem — people no longer view the person the same way they once did.
Origin
This idiom has religious roots. It refers to the biblical story of Adam and Eve, who lost God’s favour — His “grace” — by disobeying Him and eating the forbidden fruit in the Garden of Eden. Their disobedience caused them to fall from God’s grace and be cast out of paradise.
In Christian theology, “grace” means the unearned favour and love of God. To fall from grace therefore originally meant to lose that divine favour through sin. Over the centuries, the phrase moved beyond strictly religious use and came to describe any loss of favour, esteem, or good reputation in everyday life. Figurative expressions of this kind are the sort of entry catalogued by major reference works such as the Cambridge Dictionary, which track how idiomatic meanings develop and spread.
Today the religious meaning is rarely the first one people think of; the idiom is most often used in a secular sense about public figures or anyone whose standing has collapsed.
Example Sentences
Once the country’s most popular minister, he fell from grace after the corruption scandal broke.
The star striker fell from grace when fans learned he had been cheating throughout his career.
It only took one dishonest deal for the respected banker to fall from grace in the eyes of his colleagues.
Dialogue Example
A: Whatever happened to that famous chef everyone loved a few years ago?
B: He really fell from grace — after the food-safety scandal, all his restaurants closed and nobody will work with him now.
Usage Notes
This idiom is used in both British and American English and appears frequently in journalism and biography. It is most natural when describing someone who genuinely held a high or respected position before their decline. It can be used with various tenses: “he fell from grace,” “she has fallen from grace,” or “a fall from grace” as a noun phrase.
Common Mistakes
Learners sometimes use this phrase for any small mistake, but it should be reserved for a significant loss of reputation or status. A minor slip does not normally cause someone to fall from grace. Also note the noun form is “a fall from grace” — do not write “a falling from grace” in standard usage.
Related Idioms
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Quick Check: Fall From Grace
2 questions — test what you just learned.
1. What does “Fall From Grace” mean?
2. Complete the sentence: “It only took one dishonest deal for the respected banker to _____ in the eyes of his colleagues.”
Frequently Asked Questions
What does "fall from grace" mean?
It means to lose the favour, status, or good reputation you once had, usually because of a mistake, scandal, or wrongdoing — going from a respected position to disgrace.
How do you use "fall from grace" in a sentence?
You can say "the politician fell from grace after the scandal" or "it was a dramatic fall from grace." It is used when someone who was admired or powerful loses that standing.
Where does "fall from grace" come from?
It comes from the biblical story of Adam and Eve, who lost God’s favour, or "grace," by disobeying Him in the Garden of Eden. Over time the phrase came to describe any loss of favour or reputation.
Is "fall from grace" a noun or a verb?
It can be both. As a verb phrase: "he fell from grace." As a noun phrase: "a fall from grace." Both forms are common and correct.
What is the opposite of "fall from grace"?
The opposite would be to "rise to prominence," "win favour," or "be back in someone’s good books" — gaining respect and status rather than losing it.
Is "fall from grace" formal or informal?
It is semi-formal. It appears often in news writing, biographies, and serious conversation, but is also understood and used in casual speech.
Can "fall from grace" be used about ordinary people?
Yes, although it is most common for public figures. It can describe anyone who held a respected or favoured position, such as a trusted employee, and then lost that standing.
Does "fall from grace" always involve wrongdoing?
Usually, but not always. It often follows a scandal or mistake, yet it can sometimes describe a loss of favour or popularity for other reasons, such as falling out of public fashion.
What are common collocations with "fall from grace"?
Common collocations include "a dramatic fall from grace," "a spectacular fall from grace," "a sudden fall from grace," and "fall from grace in the eyes of the public."
What English level is "fall from grace" suitable for?
It is pitched at B2 (Upper Intermediate) level, as it is figurative and carries cultural and moral connotations that require some understanding of context.