Host Ryan Seacrest acknowledged the difficulty of the final puzzle before opening the envelope to reveal the lost prize: a Ford vehicle.
Fans erupted online almost immediately.
Viewers flooded YouTube and social media with criticism, slamming the phrase as obscure, outdated, and unfair. Some compared it to impossible Hangman choices, while others joked that the show was digging phrases out of the 19th century. Several commenters insisted they had never heard the expression used in real life.
Despite the disappointment, Graham walked away with a sizable cash prize and an international vacation — but for many fans, the night will be remembered for what didn’t happen.
For viewers at home, it was a painful reminder that on “Wheel of Fortune,” even a near-perfect game can end with a brutal twist — and sometimes, the puzzle really does outfox everyone
