fell over them like a thick fog

Definitions

• Overwhelm someone
  This phrase is used to imply that something was so intense or comprehensive that it dominated or consumed a person or situation in the same sense that a thick fog would obscure everything within a landscape.

• Obscure or confuse someone
  The phrase is used to describe a situation where something is so complicated, confusing, or intricate that it obscures clarity and understanding, much like how a thick fog reduces visibility and makes navigation difficult.

• A sudden, unexpected occurrence
  The idiom can be used to refer to a sudden or unexpected event or situation that engulfs someone or something quickly and completely, similar to how a thick fog can descend without warning and cover everything.

Examples of fell over them like a thick fog

• The sales figures for the past quarter took Mark completely by surprise. He was so engrossed in analyzing the market trends that he didn't even realize how quickly time had passed. Suddenly, he found himself drowning in a deluge of numbers, charts, and tables. It felt as though a thick fog had descended upon him, obscuring his clarity of thought and leaving him disoriented. Mark stumbled and fell over the data, barely able to make sense of it all.

  The idiom "fell over them like a thick fog" is used when someone is overwhelmed by an unexpected and overwhelming deluge of information or events. It implies that the person was caught off guard and is struggling to come to terms with the situation. Here, Mark's surprise at the sales figures and the sudden influx of data has left him disoriented and floundering, much like a person stumbling blindly through a thick fog.

• The reporter's questions caught the politician off guard, and he stumbled through his responses, seemingly unable to find his footing. It was as if he had fallen over the answers like a thick fog had descended upon him.

  This idiom is used to describe a situation where someone has great difficulty in finding the right words or solutions due to being unexpectedly confused or disoriented. The image conveyed by the idiom is that of being enveloped in thick fog, which can make it difficult to see and navigate one's way around. The person being described in this example has been taken aback by the reporter's line of questioning, and he is struggling to find his way through the haze of uncertainty.

• The director's critique of the actor's performance left her reeling, and she found herself stumbling over her lines during the next scene. It felt as if she had fallen over the words like a thick fog had settled upon the stage.

  This idiom is used to describe a situation where someone is having a hard time performing a task due to being thrown off balance by a critic or assessment. The image conveyed by the idiom is that of being enveloped in thick fog, which can make it challenging to move around or see clearly. The actress being described in this example has been taken aback by the director's critique, and she is having difficulty delivering her lines as a result.

• The student's notes were difficult to decipher, and her lecturer found himself struggling to follow her train of thought. It was as if he had fallen over the ideas like a thick fog had landed on the pages of her notebook.

  This idiom is used to describe a situation where someone is having trouble understanding another person's ideas or thoughts because they are difficult to comprehend. The image conveyed by the idiom is that of being enveloped in thick fog, which can make it hard to discern shapes and contours. In this example, the lecturer is having a tough time following the student's ideas, which are complex and difficult to navigate.

• The construction workers were blindsided by the sudden rainstorm, causing them to slip and slide across the job site. It was as if they had fallen over the wet pavement like a thick fog had descended upon the work zone.

  This idiom is used to describe a situation where people are caught off guard by an unexpected event, causing them to lose their footing or footing. The image conveyed by the idiom is that of being enveloped in thick fog, which can make it difficult to see and move around. In this example, the construction workers are struggling to navigate the wet job site due to the sudden rainstorm, which has thrown them off balance.

• She was so distracted by the many tasks on her to-do list that she couldn't focus on anything else. Suddenly, she stumbled upon the solutions to all her problems, and ideas started flooding her mind. She felt overwhelmed and couldn't keep up with the sudden influx of ideas. In her excitement, she blurted out all her ideas at once, leaving her listeners feeling confused and disoriented. This left her feeling embarrassed and frustrated.

  Here, "fell over them like a thick fog" is used figuratively to describe the sudden and overwhelming flood of ideas that the person in the example was unable to manage or process. The phrase "thick fog" is used to convey the sense of confusion and disorientation that the situation caused for her listeners.

• The company's sales had been stagnant for months, and everyone was feeling the pressure. One day, they received an unexpected offer from a major client that could change the course of their business. They were hesitant at first, unsure of how to proceed. But as they started to explore the possibilities, ideas began to take shape, and they saw the potential for success. They worked tirelessly to secure the deal, but soon found themselves overwhelmed by the details and complexities of the arrangement. As deadlines loomed, tempers flared, and confidence eroded. In the end, they fell over the details like a thick fog, leading to costly mistakes and lost opportunities.

  Here, "fell over them like a thick fog" is used to describe the company's inability to manage the multiple details and complexities of the business deal. The phrase "thick fog" is used metaphorically to describe the confusion and uncertainty that surrounded the situation.

• The scientist had spent years working on a groundbreaking discovery, but he was struggling to find the final piece of the puzzle. He spent countless hours poring over his notes, but nothing seemed to fit. One day, he stumbled upon a forgotten piece of data that changed everything. Ideas started pouring in, and he worked feverishly to verify his findings. But as the excitement grew, he found himself losing focus and getting carried away. He fell over the details like a thick fog, making careless errors and missing critical signs. In the end, his compound proved to be ineffective, and he was left feeling disappointed and disheartened.

  Here, "fell over the details like a thick fog" is used to describe the scientist's inability to manage the multiple details of his discovery. The phrase "thick fog" is used metaphorically to describe the confusion and uncertainty that surrounded the situation.

Conclusion

The idiom "fell over them like a thick fog" is rich in imagery and can carry several interpretations depending on the context in which it is used. The common thread among these meanings is the idea of a thick fog, which can both obscure visibility and envelop a landscape. As such, this phrase can be used to convey a sense of overwhelming intensity, confusion, or suddenness. It might describe an intense emotion that completely consumes a person, a complex problem that obscures understanding, or a rapid event that occurs without warning.

Origin of "fell over them like a thick fog"

The idiom "fell over them like a thick fog" is a metaphorical phrase whose origins are a bit unclear, but its vivid imagery is deeply rooted in natural phenomena. Fog, especially thick fog, is a weather condition that can quickly descend and envelop an area, reducing visibility and giving a sense of isolation. The use of "thick fog" to represent overwhelming and quickly changing situations might have been inspired by such experiences.

It's worth noting that the use of weather conditions as metaphors in language is quite common and dates back to ancient times. Such phrases are often used to describe human emotions or situations in a more vivid and relatable way. This idiom is a perfect example of this, using a weather event everyone can easily picture and relate to in order to convey complex or intense situations.