Definition, Meaning & Synonyms

meet your Waterloo

idiom

/miːt jɔːr ˈwɔːr.luː/

Definition

To encounter a decisive or overwhelming defeat.

Examples

After years of success in business, the company finally met its Waterloo when the market crashed.
Despite his confidence, he met his Waterloo during the final match of the tournament.
She thought she could easily pass the exam, but she met her Waterloo with the difficult questions.

Meaning

The phrase ‘meet your Waterloo’ refers to a person’s experience of facing a significant challenge or defeat, akin to Napoleon Bonaparte’s final defeat at the Battle of Waterloo in 1815.