Brewer's: Ride for a Fall

(To). To ride a race and lose it intentionally.

“There were not wanting people who said that government had `ridden for a fall,' in their despair of carrying out their policy.” —Newspaper paragraph, November, 1885.

Ride up Holborn Hill (To). To go to the gallows.

“I shall live to see you ride up Holborn Hill.” —Congreve: Love for Love.

Source: Dictionary of Phrase and Fable, E. Cobham Brewer, 1894
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