fall flat, head for showdown, grind to a halt. Egypt Heads for Showdown. Kamala Harris Had a Wall Street-Approved Economic Pitch. It Fell Flat.

Kamala Harris Had a Wall Street-Approved Economic Pitch. It Fell Flat.

The vice president vacillated on how to talk about the economy, and ended up adopting tweaks that corporate and progressive allies said muddled the message.

U.K.'s Long and Winding Road

Chancellor George Osborne faces a test at next week's U.K. budget statement, with the economy grinding to a halt in the face of the euro-zone crisis.

Egypt Heads for Showdown
Egypt's military leadership was on a collision course with protesters as its promises on reforms fell flat with a growing crowd of demonstrators.

grind to a halt

Also, come to a grinding halt. Gradually come to a standstill or end. For example, Once the funding stopped, the refurbishing project ground to a halt, or She's come to a grinding halt with that book she's writing. This expression alludes to a clogged engine that gradually stops or a ship that runs aground.

fall flat

Fail, prove to be ineffective, as in His jokes nearly always fell flat--no one ever laughed at them. [First half of 1800s]

showdown

/ˈʃəʊdaʊn/

noun

1. 1.

   a final test or confrontation intended to settle a dispute.

   "he and his government were lurching towards an angry showdown with their critics"

   Similar:

   confrontation

   deciding event

   clash

   face-off

   moment of truth

   crisis
2. 2.

   (in poker or brag) the requirement at the end of a round that the players who remain in should show their cards to determine which is the strongest hand.