fall upon

To start experiencing difficulties or bad conditions.

• The family fell upon hard times.
• Small shops fell upon difficult times after the factory closed.
• Even successful people can fall upon hardship.

Similar words: experience, suffer

Common phrases: fall upon hardship, fall upon hard times

To attack someone or a place suddenly and violently.

• The wolves fell upon their prey.
• Soldiers fell upon the camp before sunrise.
• The attackers fell upon him without warning.

How to use it: fall upon someone/something (The raiders fell upon the village at dawn.)

Similar words: attack, set upon

Common phrases: fall upon someone, fall upon enemies

To happen on a particular date or day.

• Her birthday falls upon a Monday.
• The festival fell upon the first day of spring.
• Will the holiday fall upon a weekend next year?

How to use it: fall upon a day/date (The anniversary falls upon a Sunday this year.)

Similar words: fall on, occur on

Common phrases: fall upon Sunday, fall upon Christmas

To find something without planning or expecting to find it.

• I fell upon a useful clue.
• She fell upon the answer while sorting old notes.
• They fell upon an abandoned cottage during their walk.

How to use it: fall upon something (During my search, I fell upon a useful old map.)

Similar words: come across, happen upon, stumble upon

Common phrases: fall upon something, fall upon clues