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.

I had a fall the other evening whilst out with the dogs. There was absolutely no reason for it that I could see. One minute I was walking along. The next I was falling and hitting the ground.

I didn't fall over, as there was no obstacle in the way.

Incidently, the dogs could not have given less of a shit.

It would have been better to either : FALL and get straight up OR:
FALL and need AMBULANCE. But middle ground is elderly FALL. Sorry. Elderly FALL feels different.....

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.

So you are basically in the same category as a toddler who has pissed herself?

If nobody laughed you are officially old - apparently!!!
Hope you are ok? It’s horrible falling over

The last time I fell over was in May 1998 and I was 25.

As it’s been so long, I really think it will be very depressing when i inevitably ’have a fall’.

To me, having a fall implies helplessness (eg passing out with for no apparent reason) or physical weakness (eg knee suddenly giving way) rather than the clumsiness (not paying attention to a step, nearby, when trimming a plant) or misfortune (some lazy tit leaving a crate in the middle of the path that I didn't see in time with the sun in my eyes).

I have falls. I’m 55 but have a progressive neurological illness and my balance is badly affected. No way I can get up on my own either. Last bad fall I landed myself in hospital for 3 weeks and am still recovering (walking with a zimmer, but now climbing stairs with 2 handrails). The rehab team hope to have me walking independently before Christmas! I hope so too, I’m far to young for all this.

Another topic, but it shows how tiny variations in language matter.

My friend had a rather precocious daughter who answered the phone and said 'Mummy's on the loo!' She was mortified.

'Mummy's IN the loo' would have been OK, but ON the loo - too much information somehow!

Maybe it implied being there for a long time, straining away, while reading - but it was a bit unsavoury.

I had an elderly friend (in his 80s as opposed to my 60's) who, when I hadn't rung or emailed him for a few days, rang me repeatedly. I, worried by all the missed calles, rang him back. He said 'Oh good, you're all right. I was worried you hadn't rung because you'd had a fall.'

I pointed out that 1) I am twenty years younger than him and he 'has a fall', I just fall over, 2) I do Pilates every day and am considerably fitter than him and 3) I HAVE A BLOODY JOB and am therefore not sitting on my laptop or phone all day!

He did laugh about it though.