fail

verb

不成功 not succeed

1. 失败；未能（做到）
   to not be successful in achieving sth
   1. I failed in my attempt to persuade her.
      我未能说服她。
   2. Many diets fail because they are boring.
      许多规定饮食因单调乏味都不奏效。
   3. a failing school
      一所失败的学校
   4. She failed to get into art college.
      她未能进入艺术学院。
   5. The song can't fail to be a hit (= definitely will be a hit) .
      这首歌不可能不流行起来。

未做某事 not do sth

2. 未做；未履行（某事）
   to not do sth
   1. He failed to keep the appointment.
      他未履约。
   2. She never fails to email every week.
      每周她必定发电子邮件。
   3. I fail to see (= I don't understand) why you won't even give it a try.
      我不懂为什么你连试一试都不愿意。
   4. He felt he would be failing in his duty if he did not report it.
      他认为他如果不报告就是失职。

测验；考试 test/exam

3. 不及格；评定不及格
   to not pass a test or an exam; to decide that sb/sth has not passed a test or an exam
   1. He failed his driving test.
      他驾驶执照考试不及格。
   2. The examiners failed over half the candidates.
      主考人员评定，半数以上报考者不及格。
   3. She was disqualified after failing a drugs test.
      她药检未通过，被取消了资格。
   4. What will you do if you fail?
      如果你考试失败打算干什么？

机器；身体部位 of machines/parts of body

4. 出故障；失灵
   to stop working
   1. The brakes on my bike failed half way down the hill.
      我骑自行车下山到中途刹车失灵了。

健康；视力 of health/sight

5. 衰退
   to become weak
   1. Her eyesight is failing.
      她的视力日渐衰退。
   2. His last months in office were marred by failing health.
      由于健康恶化，他最后几个月的公职工作受到了影响。

使失望 disappoint sb

6. 使失望；有负于；无能为力
   to disappoint sb; to be unable to help when needed
   1. When he lost his job, he felt he had failed his family.
      他失去工作以后，感到辜负了他的家庭。
   2. She tried to be brave, but her courage failed her.
      她想勇敢，但却鼓不起勇气。
   3. Words fail me (= I cannot express how I feel) .
      我无法表达自己的感受。

不足 not be enough

7. 不足；缺乏
   to not be enough when needed or expected
   1. The crops failed again last summer.
      上个夏季庄稼又歉收了。
   2. The rains had failed and the rivers were dry.
      雨量不足，河流干涸。

公司；企业 of company/business

8. 倒闭；破产
   to be unable to continue
   1. Several banks failed during the recession.
      经济衰退期间有几家银行倒闭了。

noun

1. （考试）不及格
   the result of an exam in which a person is not successful
   1. I got three passes and one fail.
      我考试三门及格，一门不及格。

1. VERB 失败;未能够;未做成
   If you fail to do something that you were trying to do, you are unable to do it or do not succeed in doing it.
   1. The Workers' Party failed to win a single governorship...
      劳工党连一个州长职位也未能赢得。
   2. He failed in his attempt to take control of the company...
      他试图掌控公司，但以失败告终。
   3. Many of us have tried to lose weight and failed miserably...
      我们中很多人都努力要减肥，无奈均以惨败告终。
   4. The truth is, I'm a failed comedy writer really.
      事实上，我真的是个很失败的喜剧作家。
2. VERB (活动、尝试、计划等)失败，不成功
   If an activity, attempt, or plan fails, it is not successful.
   1. We tried to develop plans for them to get along, which all failed miserably...
      我们试图计划让他们好好相处，但均以惨败告终。
   2. He was afraid the revolution they had started would fail...
      他担心他们发起的大变革会遭遇失败。
   3. After a failed military offensive, all government troops and police were withdrawn from the island.
      在一次军事进攻失败之后，所有政府军和警察均从岛上撤离了。
3. VERB 没有做，未做(应做的事)
   If someone or something fails to do a particular thing that they should have done, they do not do it.
   1. Some schools fail to set any homework...
      有些学校没有布置任何作业。
   2. He failed to file tax returns for 1982...
      他没有呈报 1982 年的纳税申报单。
   3. The bomb failed to explode.
      炸弹没有爆炸。
4. VERB 出故障;失灵
   If something fails, it stops working properly, or does not do what it is supposed to do.
   1. The lights mysteriously failed, and we stumbled around in complete darkness...
      灯不知怎么地不亮了，我们在一片黑暗中跌跌撞撞地走着。
   2. In fact many food crops failed because of the drought.
      实际上，因为干旱，很多粮食作物歉收。
5. VERB (企业)倒闭，破产;(机构)解体;(体系)崩溃
   If a business, organization, or system fails, it becomes unable to continue in operation or in existence.
   1. So far this year, 104 banks have failed.
      今年到目前为止，已有 104 家银行倒闭。
   2. ...a failed hotel business...
      破产的酒店
   3. Who wants to buy a computer from a failing company?
      谁愿意从一家要倒闭的公司买计算机呢？
6. VERB (健康状况、体质等)衰弱，虚弱，衰退
   If something such as your health or a physical quality is failing, it is becoming gradually weaker or less effective.
   1. He was 58, and his health was failing rapidly...
      他 58 岁，身体正在迅速衰老。
   2. Here in the hills, the light failed more quickly...
      在山区这儿，天黑得更快。
   3. An apparently failing memory is damaging for a national leader.
      明显的记忆力衰退对一个国家领导人来说极为不利。
7. VERB 辜负;使失望
   If someone fails you, they do not do what you had expected or trusted them to do.
   1. We waited twenty-one years, don't fail us now.
      我们等了 21 年了，如今不要让我们失望。
   2. ...communities who feel that the political system has failed them.
      对此套政治体制感到失望的群体
8. VERB 不履行，未尽(职责)
   If someone fails in their duty or fails in their responsibilities, they do not do everything that they have a duty or a responsibility to do.
   1. Lawyers are accused of failing in their duties to advise clients of their rights...
      律师们被控未尽到告知当事人其正当权利的职责。
   2. If we did not report what was happening in the country, we would be failing in our duty.
      如果我们没有报道这个国家正在发生的事情，我们就没有尽到自己的责任。
9. VERB (品质或能力)有负于;(使)不如愿;不够
   If a quality or ability that you have fails you, or if it fails, it is not good enough in a particular situation to enable you to do what you want to do.
   1. For once, the artist's fertile imagination failed him...
      这位画家丰富的想象力曾一度枯竭。
   2. Their courage failed a few steps short and they came running back.
      还差几步他们却胆怯了，又跑回来了。
10. VERB 不及格
    If someone fails a test, examination, or course, they perform badly in it and do not reach the standard that is required.
    1. I lived in fear of failing my end-of-term exams.
       我总是担心期末考试不及格。
    2. Fail is also a noun.
       
    3. It's the difference between a pass and a fail.
       这是及格和不及格的差别。
11. VERB 评定…不及格;使不及格
    If someone fails you in a test, examination, or course, they judge that you have not reached a high enough standard in it.
    1. ...the two men who had failed him during his first year of law school.
       在法学院一年级时让他不及格的两个人
12. PHRASE 如果其他一切都不奏效的话;假如其他都行不通
    You say if all else fails to suggest what could be done in a certain situation if all the other things you have tried are unsuccessful.
    1. If all else fails, I could always drive a truck.
       如果其他都不行，我总还可以开卡车。
13. PHRASE (用以表示不赞成)不明白，看不出
    You can use I fail to see or I fail to understand in order to introduce a statement which indicates that you do not agree with what someone has said or done.
    1. That's how it was in my day and I fail to see why it should be different now.
       我那时候就是这样的，我搞不懂为什么现在非要弄得不一样。
14. PHRASE 总是;一直
    You use without fail to emphasize that something always happens.
    1. He attended every meeting without fail.
       他逢会必到。
15. PHRASE (用以强调命令或承诺)一定，必须
    You use without fail to emphasize an order or a promise.
    1. On the 30th you must without fail hand in some money for Alex...
       30 日那天你必须替亚历克斯交一些钱。
    2. Tomorrow without fail he would be at the old riverside warehouse.
       明天他一定会在河边的旧仓库里。

1. He wanted to make amends for causing their marriage to fail.
   他导致了他们的婚姻破裂，因此想作出补偿。
2. The Workers 'Party failed to win a single governorship
   劳工党连一个州长职位也未能赢得。
3. He failed in his attempt to take control of the company
   他试图掌控公司，但以失败告终。
4. Many of us have tried to lose weight and failed miserably
   我们中很多人都努力要减肥，无奈均以惨败告终。
5. The truth is, I'm a failed comedy writer really.
   事实上，我真的是个很失败的喜剧作家。
6. We tried to develop plans for them to get along, which all failed miserably
   我们试图计划让他们好好相处，但均以惨败告终。
7. He was afraid the revolution they had started would fail
   他担心他们发起的大变革会遭遇失败。
8. After a failed military offensive, all government troops and police were withdrawn from the island.
   在一次军事进攻失败之后，所有政府军和警察均从岛上撤离了。
9. Some schools fail to set any homework
   有些学校没有布置任何作业。
10. He failed to file tax returns for 1982
    他没有呈报1982年的纳税申报单。
11. The bomb failed to explode.
    炸弹没有爆炸。
12. The lights mysteriously failed, and we stumbled around in complete darkness
    灯不知怎么地不亮了，我们在一片黑暗中跌跌撞撞地走着。
13. In fact many food crops failed because of the drought.
    实际上，因为干旱，很多粮食作物歉收。
14. So far this year, 104 banks have failed.
    今年到目前为止，已有104家银行倒闭。
15. Who wants to buy a computer from a failing company?
    谁愿意从一家要倒闭的公司买计算机呢？
16. Here in the hills, the light failed more quickly
    在山区这儿，天黑得更快。
17. An apparently failing memory is damaging for a national leader.
    明显的记忆力衰退对一个国家领导人来说极为不利。
18. We waited twenty-one years, don't fail us now.
    我们等了21年了，如今不要让我们失望。
19. Lawyers are accused of failing in their duties to advise clients of their rights
    律师们被控未尽到告知当事人其正当权利的职责。
20. If we did not report what was happening in the country, we would be failing in our duty.
    如果我们没有报道这个国家正在发生的事情，我们就没有尽到自己的责任。
21. For once, the artist's fertile imagination failed him
    这位画家丰富的想象力曾一度枯竭。
22. Their courage failed a few steps short and they came running back.
    还差几步他们却胆怯了，又跑回来了。
23. I lived in fear of failing my end-of-term exams.
    我总是担心期末考试不及格。
24. If all else fails, I could always drive a truck.
    如果其他都不行，我总还可以开卡车。
25. That's how it was in my day and I fail to see why it should be different now.
    我那时候就是这样的，我搞不懂为什么现在非要弄得不一样。
26. He attended every meeting without fail.
    他逢会必到。
27. On the 30th you must without fail hand in some money for Alex
    30日那天你必须替亚历克斯交一些钱。
28. Tomorrow without fail he would be at the old riverside warehouse.
    明天他一定会在河边的旧仓库里。
29. I will have a try even though I should fail.
    哪怕失败，我也要试一下。

v.

if all else fails

• 实在不行的话（还可以…）
  used to suggest sth that sb can do if nothing else they have tried is successful
  1. If all else fails, you can always sell your motorbike.
     如果所有别的办法都不行，你总还可以卖掉摩托车。

n.

without fail

• 务必；一定
  when you tell sb to do sth without fail , you are telling them that they must do it
  1. I want you here by two o'clock without fail.
     我要你两点钟务必来到这里。
• 总是；必定
  always
  1. He emails every week without fail.
     他每周必定发电子邮件。

verb

1. get worse
   1. Her health is declining

2. stop operating or functioning
   1. The engine finally went
   2. The car died on the road
   3. The bus we travelled in broke down on the way to town
   4. The coffee maker broke
   5. The engine failed on the way to town
   6. her eyesight went after the accident

   Synonym:    go badgive waydiegive outconk outgobreakbreak down

3. prove insufficient
   1. The water supply for the town failed after a long drought

   Synonym:    run outgive out

4. disappoint, prove undependable to
   1. His sense of smell failed him this time
   2. His strength finally failed him
   3. His children failed him in the crisis

   Synonym:    betray

5. become bankrupt or insolvent
   1. The toy company went bankrupt after the competition hired cheap Mexican labor
   2. A number of banks failed that year

6. fall short in what is expected
   1. She failed in her obligations as a good daughter-in-law
   2. We must not fail his obligation to the victims of the Holocaust

7. fail to get a passing grade
   1. She studied hard but failed nevertheless
   2. Did I fail the test?

   Synonym:    flunkbombflush it

8. judge unacceptable
   1. The teacher failed six students

9. be unsuccessful
   1. Where do today's public schools fail?
   2. The attempt to rescue the hostages failed miserably

   Synonym:    go wrongmiscarry

10. fail to do something
    1. She failed to notice that her child was no longer in his crib
    2. The secretary failed to call the customer and the company lost the account

    Synonym:    neglect

11. be unable
    1. I fail to understand your motives