'fall by the wayside' definitions:

Definition of 'fall by the wayside'

From: WordNet
verb
Give up in the face of defeat of lacking hope; admit defeat; "In the second round, the challenger gave up" [syn: drop out, give up, fall by the wayside, drop by the wayside, throw in, throw in the towel, quit, chuck up the sponge] [ant: enter, participate]