fall through/between the cracks

idiom

variants or less commonly slip through/between the cracks
: to fail to be noticed, assisted, or included with others
Parents are concerned that children who have trouble in school will fall through the cracks in the school system.
The program is meant to help workers who may have slipped through the cracks because of their age.

Examples of fall through/between the cracks in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
The Special Tribunal must be welcomed as an important step to address the crime of aggression, which continues to fall through the cracks of international legal norms. Dr. Ewelina U. Ochab, Forbes.com, 26 June 2025 Kevin Corinth acknowledges that red tape can cause problems and force some legitimate beneficiaries to fall through the cracks. Greg Rosalsky, NPR, 26 June 2025 Because Medicaid’s scope is limited and inconsistent, preventive care screenings, dental cleanings and chronic disease management often fall through the cracks. Zachary W. Schulz, The Conversation, 6 June 2025 The new app may help campers locate private campgrounds that sometimes fall through the cracks. Frederick Dreier, Outside Online, 20 May 2025 See All Example Sentences for fall through/between the cracks

Browse Nearby Words

See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Fall through/between the cracks.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/fall%20through%2Fbetween%20the%20cracks. Accessed 6 Jul. 2025.

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!