Falling over Vs having a fall

[BuzzyWeeThing]

I fell over while at work. It was a bad fall, I was carrying things so I did not put my hands out fully to protect myself. I landed on my face. My DP was phoned and was told I had ‘had a fall’. I’m 45 and fell over, I’m not elderly and had a fall. Word got round work and I’ve had messages saying they’ve heard I’ve had a fall. Grrr I’m feeling old now.

You had a fall, it's the term.

You're being oversensitive about the phrase and seem to have a problem with age?

I hope you feel better soon, it can be really unsettling having an accident - at any age.

This is a conversation my friends and I have had several times. When do you stop ‘falling over’ and start ‘having a fall’? The latter is definitely used for the elderly.

The next stage is "having a funny turn"...recovery is aided by "a nice cup of tea and a sit down".

I too have entered the age of 'having a fall' instead of just falling over. On the bright side, I am starting to care a lot less about what other people think of me and my car insurance renewal was naff all, so there are benefits!

I agree that 'had a fall' deffo sounds like a crossover to...beginning of the end, loss of mobility, phyisical decline. If you are elderly you absolutely do not want to 'have a fall'.

'Fell over' sounds as if you can likely get up again. Kids 'fall over'. 'He fell over!" - classic playground chant.

However, I think if this occured at work there might be some H&S speak involved (we have training to 'prevent falls'). So they are likely using the language parameters of the workplace for reporting proceedures.

Hope you are OK!

My sister has fallen over, injuring herself quite badly, three times (that I know of) this year. She is in her early 60s and I am worried that she had 'had a fall'. I think there is definitely a distinction between 'having a fall' and falling over, mentally at least! I am in my mid 60s and not in good health, and I freely acknowledge that I have to be careful sometimes not to lose my balance, but I have NEVER had a fall! In fact the last time I fell over was over 10 years ago and that was because I slipped on a shiny floor - like you with my hands full. Very embarrassing.

You sound like Sue Johnston in Ann Droid (give it a watch if you haven't seen it).

My pal and I used to use ‘having a fall’ jokingly but recently realised we are approaching the age where people might unironically say that about us. That was sobering!

I definitely am still in my ‘falling over’ era though. When I think of ‘having a fall’, I think of elderly people who fall over in their homes or doing basic things where you wouldn’t generally expect to fall over, people with really poor mobility who just randomly sort of topple over, that sort of thing.

My last fall was during a 15k trail race, and I would definitely say I fell over and did not ‘have a fall’!

It isn't the words it's how it is spoken. Had a fall is loaded with all the sympathy of poor dear she (it is usually a she) is a little unsteady on her feet shouldn't be out without support (stick, walking frame, another person) need to get her home.
Fell over is what tough people do (athletes, footballers, men).
I will say what actually happened tripped on bad pavements, slipped on ice or the injury known to a and e staff as pafo (pissed and fell over)

Oh no I haven't prepared myself for the funny turn phase! You're spot on though 🤣

I would feel the same to be honest. I often ponder the age we change from 'falling over' to 'had a fall'.

I think as it was in a work context though and you were carrying stuff it can pass.

I have had this conversation with my siblings recently and we came to the conclusion that if people laugh, you’ve fallen over. If they don’t, you’ve had a fall. This may only work in the uk.

I’m sorry you fell, sounds nasty and I hope you’re OK.

I've had this discussion at length! It started after I ‘had a fall’, woke up one night for a pee (normal, I was late 50s at the time), and unexpectedly found myself on the floor.

The verdict - from people of all ages - is that it’s not really age related (we could be in denial, though)

Falling over’ is when you trip or stumble on something, or there’s something tangible to blame for your fall.

‘Having a fall’ is when you can’t work out what happened and suddenly find yourself on the ground.

My 90 year old Mum fell over - not ‘had a fall’ - because she fell off the edge of her lawn and ended up face down in a bush. She absolutely will not agree to the phrase ‘having a fall’ 😆

I know what you mean. I fall over but my mum had falls and there’s a big difference! Tripping over something and caught off guard so fall is not the same as my mum having a fall when she was just stood at the kitchen counter top making a sandwich.

I had a fall recently.
Broke 4 ribs and bruised my right tit

I had a fall recently.
Broke 4 ribs and bruised my right tit

I find this sort of thing fascinating because I’m interested in language. It’s really hard to put your finger on why these expressions imply different things, but they do. At least no one has suggested you “took a tumble”! Twee US idiom.

I don’t mind people being late (er, well, linguistically, I mean) but when they say they’re running late I feel irritated.

No idea why!

I think running late gives the impression of being disorganised. Late could be because your train just got cancelled. I agree though, language nuances can be fascinating.

At what age do one's two breasts merge into a bosom?

I tripped over in the street last year, and was very pleased to be assisted by a young man of about 25.

I'm male and 55, and it was a shock. Bloody greens and their trees everywhere causing the pavements to buckle I like trees really.

I did wonder if this was the time I first "felt my age"

I think the difference is whether you need assistance to right yourself.

Even if you spanner yourself so spectacularly that you draw a crowd, if you’re shrugging off help and muttering ‘it’s ok, I’m fine’ as you stagger to your feet, then you’ve Fallen Over.

If you do the kind of face plant that leaves you stunned and momentarily motionless while you process what just happened, and it requires other people’s help to get you off the floor, then you’ve definitely Had A Fall.

There is a caveat to this though - if you’ve had the 2nd type of fall and you’re below the age of about 40, then you’ve Had An Accident.

https://youtube.com/shorts/RWumlHPTTLg?si=IHLRWnPvDNFGplEP

If you are elderly, you absolutely don't want to fall over either. Take it from someone who knows.

My definition fits with @EnjoythemoneyJane - if they need assistance, it's a fall at any age. If they can get themselves up in, they fell down.

I fell down when I stumbled and bruised my knee. I had a fall when I cracked 4 ribs tripping over a fallen fence panel in the dark.

These replies really lifted me. I was walking and tripped so yes I feel like I fell over. I was not confused as to how I ended on the floor, so to me, I hadn’t had a fall. Yes language is strange and the difference between the two irked me. My friends and family are being very kind with their messages. I was just laughing with family when they tried to tell me I’d had a fall. I am okay. A few bruises and a wobbly tooth, but mostly bruising to my ego. Haha.

yes to the posters who say next is ‘having a funny turn’ I hope I’m a while off of that.

I did exactly the same thing two years ago, OP, and my knee still hurts! I did fall 50cm onto concrete, also holding stuff. I definitely 'had a fall' that time, but if I tripped on the street, I'd say I fell over.
I don't think it's age, it's the seriousness of the event.