fails
fails — verb
- failspresent simple I / you / we / they
- failses3rd person singular
- failsing-ing form
- failsedpast simple
1. to try to reach a goal or do something you planned, but not achieve it.
to try to reach a goal or do something you planned, but not achieve it.
Erik trained for months but still failed to complete the marathon.
fail + to-infinitive for effort without result
The local team failed in their attempt to find a sponsor for the youth club.
fail in + noun phrase
Mira failed at every cake recipe she tried, but she refused to give up baking.
Despite all the planning, the experiment failed to produce any useful data.
- fall short
less direct; suggests a small margin of failure
- come up short
informal; emphasizes the gap between goal and result
- succeed
achieve what you set out to do
文法句型
fail + to-infinitive
fail in + noun phrase
fail at + noun phrase
用法筆記
Often takes a to-infinitive to specify what was not achieved. When used without an object, the failed goal is implied from context.
常見錯誤
2. used to introduce a final possibility or last available option, after other poss
used to introduce a final possibility or last available option, after other possibilities have stopped working.
If all else fails, we can sleep in the car until the morning ferry arrives.
fixed phrase: if all else fails
Heather will ask for a two-week extension; if that fails, she plans to take medical leave.
conditional: if that fails
Try restarting the computer when the screen freezes. If that fails, call the IT help desk.
The doctor tried strong antibiotics first; if those failed, surgery would be the only choice left.
- as a last resort
more formal; used in written instructions or plans
文法句型
if all else fails ...
if ... fails, ...
用法筆記
The fixed phrase 'if all else fails' usually appears at the beginning of a sentence and introduces a last-resort plan. 'If that fails' refers back to a specific option just mentioned.
3. to not reach the required standard in a test, exam, or course; or to decide that
to not reach the required standard in a test, exam, or course; or to decide that a student has not reached that standard.
Kwame failed his driving test because he did not check the mirrors before turning.
fail + exam name
The professor failed nearly half the class after the final exam results came in.
fail + person (teacher gives failing grade)
Sari failed in high-school mathematics twice before she found a tutor who could help her pass.
Justin passed chemistry with a C but failed biology by just two points.
文法句型
fail + [exam/test/subject]
fail + [student]
fail in + [subject]
用法筆記
When a teacher 'fails' a student, the teacher decides the grade. When a student 'fails' a subject, the student did not reach the pass mark. In British English, 'fail an exam' is common; in American English, 'fail a test' or 'fail a class' are used.
常見錯誤
4. to neglect to do something you were supposed to do, especially a necessary task
to neglect to do something you were supposed to do, especially a necessary task that others or you yourself depend on.
The landlord failed to fix the broken heater despite three written complaints from the tenants.
fail to fix — neglecting a duty
Valentina failed to mention the quarterly report was due Friday, not Monday, so the team missed the deadline.
fail to mention — omitting important information
Hamza failed to pay his electricity bill three months in a row and the power was cut off.
The company failed to provide safety equipment for workers on the construction site.
- fulfill
carry out a duty or promise
文法句型
fail + to-infinitive
用法筆記
Unlike sense 1 (NOT SUCCEED), this sense implies an obligation or expectation that was not met. The subject is often an organization or a person in a position of responsibility.
常見錯誤
5. to be unable to express your feelings because you are extremely surprised, angry
to be unable to express your feelings because you are extremely surprised, angry, or shocked by something.
Words fail me when I try to describe the kindness the neighbours showed after the fire.
fixed phrase: words fail me
Ritu stared at the restaurant bill; words simply failed her when she saw the total.
When Yuna saw the kitchen mess her toddler made, words failed her for a full minute.
When Justin heard the news about his unexpected promotion, words failed him for several seconds.
- be speechless
similar but more general; words fail me is more dramatic
- be lost for words
equally common; slightly less dramatic
文法句型
[words/courage/nerve] + fail + [person]
用法筆記
Almost always used in the expression 'words fail me / somebody'. The subject is nearly always the plural 'words', and it expresses an emotional reaction, not a literal inability to speak.
常見錯誤
6. to stop working correctly or stop functioning as expected, usually because of da
to stop working correctly or stop functioning as expected, usually because of damage, age, or wear.
The old refrigerator finally failed during the summer heatwave and all the food spoiled.
appliance stops working
His eyesight began to fail slowly after he turned sixty, and he needed stronger glasses.
body function weakens
The brakes on the delivery van failed halfway down the steep hill, causing a serious accident.
Nellie's memory is starting to fail, so she writes all appointments in a small notebook.
- break down
more common for machines and vehicles
- give out
informal; used for body parts or supplies
用法筆記
Commonly used for machines, body parts, and natural functions. Unlike sense 1 (NOT SUCCEED), this sense is about physical or mechanical breakdown, not about goals.
常見錯誤
7. when a company, shop, or other organization cannot continue in operation because
when a company, shop, or other organization cannot continue in operation because it does not have enough money.
The bakery failed after only eight months because it could not cover the rent and ingredient costs.
small business closure
Several banks failed during the financial crisis, and the government had to step in to help.
large institution fails
Jude's online store failed after a major shipping company lost half of his holiday orders.
When the main factory failed, more than two hundred workers lost their jobs overnight.
- go bankrupt
more formal, legal term
- go under
informal; emphasizes sinking financially
用法筆記
A business can 'fail' and close permanently, or it can 'fail' and be taken over or declared bankrupt. In news reports, 'fail' is often used with 'bank' or 'financial institution'.
常見錯誤
8. to disappoint someone by not doing what they expected or trusted you to do for t
to disappoint someone by not doing what they expected or trusted you to do for them.
Erik promised to pick up his sister from the airport but failed her when his car broke down.
fail + person (disappoint)
The coach felt he had failed the entire team by not preparing them well enough for the match.
Heather's assistant failed her by forgetting to print the contracts before the client meeting.
The lawyer failed her client by arriving late to court and missing the opening statement.
- let down
phrasal verb; same meaning, used in both informal and neutral contexts
- disappoint
weaker; can describe any unmet expectation
- support
give help when needed
- come through
successfully do what was expected
文法句型
fail + [person]
用法筆記
When 'fail' takes a person as its object, it always means letting that person down. Unlike sense 1, this is always about a relationship or responsibility between people.
常見錯誤
fails — noun
- failssingular
- failsesplural
1. a mark or grade in a test, exam, or course that is below the level needed to pas
a mark or grade in a test, exam, or course that is below the level needed to pass.
Sari received a fail in her biology course and had to retake it over the summer.
countable: a fail
Luca asked his chemistry teacher whether one fail on a quiz would affect his overall semester grade.
Yuna was worried that a fail on the final project would mean repeating the whole year.
Kwame was disappointed to see a fail on his chemistry report after studying all weekend.
用法筆記
Used both as a countable noun ('I got three fails this semester') and an uncountable noun ('He got a grade of fail'). In academic contexts, 'fail' is the opposite of 'pass'.
2. something that is completely unsuccessful, often in an embarrassing or humiliati
something that is completely unsuccessful, often in an embarrassing or humiliating way that others notice.
The company's new smartphone was a total fail because the battery lasted only two hours.
informal: a total fail
Ritu's attempt to bake a birthday cake turned out to be a spectacular fail when it collapsed.
The outdoor concert was a complete fail when a sudden storm flooded the entire park.
Valentina posted a video of her dance routine online, but it was an embarrassing fail.
- success
something that turns out well
文法句型
[be] a fail
[turn out] a fail
用法筆記
This is an informal, countable use common in social media and everyday conversation. Unlike 'failure', which sounds more serious, 'a fail' often has a light-hearted or humorous tone.