fall together

English

Etymology

The idiomatic sense “to merge” may be a loan translation of to coincide. Compare also German zusammenfallen (“to merge”).

Verb

fall together (third-person singular simple present falls together, present participle falling together, simple past fell together, past participle fallen together) (intransitive)

1. To be merged or coalesce; to become identical.
2. To come together.
   • 1726 October 28, [Jonathan Swift], “The Author’s Great Love of His Native Country. […]”, in Travels into Several Remote Nations of the World. […] [Gulliver’s Travels], volume II, London: […] Benj[amin] Motte, […], →OCLC, part IV (A Voyage to the Houyhnhnms), page 258:

     For, if (ſaid he) you throw among five Yahoos as much Food as would be ſufficient for fifty, they will, inſtead of eating peaceably, fall together by the ears, each ſingle one impatient to have all to itſelf; […]

3. (archaic, now Newfoundland) Of the eyes: to close, especially from tiredness.
4. (obsolete) to contract

Derived terms

• fall together by the ears