功败垂成

Explanation: Down: close, soon. Things to be successful when failed. 　　Usage: Partial official; as the predicate expressed regret 　　Source: "Biography of Jin Shu Xie Xuan": "Temple more than operator, good figure to no avail; drop any age to promote, 功败垂成." 　　Examples: Moreover, twelve gold medals, he may not know is false, why go back to return after victory, so ~. (Qing Wu Jian "Strange two decades," the sixty-first back) Thesaurus:  fall short of success for lack of a final effort, be irrevocally lost as sth. is thrown into the eastward flowing stream, all one's efforts wasted, Guilengzhichuang, (usually said of a martyr, hero, etc.) to die before the fulfilment of his ambition or aspiration Antonym Group:  You pays your money and takes your choice., Jinru wish, be in one's element (like fish in water), sit pretty, try to find humanity and finally get if, fruits fall off when ripe— things will be easily settled when conditions are ripe, Guashushengluo, win instant success