fall on/upon somebody/something phrasal verb ( see also ↑ fall )
1 . if a duty or job falls on someone, they are responsible for doing it:
The responsibility usually falls on the mother.
2 . literary to eagerly start eating or using something:
She fell on the food as if she hadn’t eaten for days.
3 . literary to suddenly attack or get hold of someone:
Some of the older boys fell on him and broke his glasses.
4 . sb’s eyes/gaze/glance fall(s) on something if your eyes etc fall on something, you notice it:
His eyes fell on her bag. ‘Are you going somewhere?’
5 . fall on hard/bad times to experience difficulties and problems in your life such as not having enough money:
The aim is to raise money for workers who have fallen on hard times.
6 . fall on your sword to leave your job because your organization has done something wrong, and you are taking responsibility for it:
It was clear that the Prime Minister wanted her to fall on her sword.
⇨ fall on deaf ears at ↑ deaf (5)