To get tantalisingly close to success only to screw it all up at the finish.
To snatch defeat from the jaws of victory Spectacular failure
The team were winning 4-2 against their fiercest rivals with only added time to go. There was no way they couldn’t win this now but then they ‘hibsed it’ and let in 2 late goals to only draw.
Someone or something that bites your ankles.
To a postman, an ankle biter is often known as a dog.
To an adult, an ankle biter may be a toddler.
To hikers, an ankle biter is sometimes a tick.
And so on.