enSCIdioms of Success and Failure II9
close but no cigar : close, but ultimately unsuccessful
get off to a flying start : to start off really, really well
by leaps and bounds : by huge amounts
make a killing : to make a huge amount of money
ahead of the pack : ahead of everyone else
throw in the towel : to surrender or give up
win hands down : to win easily
fall flat on your face : to fail completely
the final nail in its coffin : the last thing that made something fail