failure
Idioms (47)
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get carried away
CEFR B2to become so excited or involved that you lose control
Informal -
beat/get the hell out of something
CEFR C1to leave a place very quickly (get); or to defeat or hit something severely (beat)
Informal -
throw up one's hands
CEFR B2to show that you give up or feel helpless about something
Neutral -
barking up the wrong tree
CEFR B2To pursue a mistaken or misguided line of thought or action.
Informal -
miss the boat
CEFR B1To lose a chance to do something by being too slow or late.
Informal -
back to the drawing board
CEFR B2to start planning or designing again after an idea or attempt has failed
Neutral -
throw in the towel
CEFR B2To give up or admit defeat.
Informal -
go down in flames
CEFR C1To fail suddenly and completely.
Informal -
flash in the pan
CEFR B2something that shows brilliant early promise but fails quickly and leaves nothing behind
Informal -
back to square one
CEFR B2to return to the beginning of a task after an attempt has failed
Neutral -
bite the dust
CEFR B2to fail or come to an end; to die
Informal -
down the drain
CEFR B2wasted or lost irretrievably
Informal -
go belly up
CEFR C1to fail completely, especially of a business
Informal -
go pear-shaped
CEFR C1to go wrong, to fail in an awkward way
Informal -
grasp at straws
CEFR B2to try desperate, unlikely measures when things are going badly
Neutral -
egg on your face
CEFR B2to be embarrassed after being publicly wrong
Informal -
fall short
CEFR B2to fail to reach an expected standard, amount, or goal
Neutral -
rock bottom
CEFR B2the lowest possible point in a difficult situation
Neutral -
fall from grace
CEFR C1to lose respect, status, or favor because of a failure or wrongdoing
Neutral -
put paid to
CEFR C1to bring something, especially a plan or hope, to a definite end
Neutral -
serve someone right
CEFR B2used to say that someone deserves the unpleasant result they received
Neutral -
off the mark
CEFR B2incorrect, inaccurate, or below the expected standard
Neutral -
come unstuck
CEFR C1to fail or encounter a problem that causes a plan or effort to break down
Neutral -
go downhill
CEFR B1to become progressively worse in condition, quality, or performance
Neutral -
laughing stock
CEFR B2a person or thing that others openly mock or ridicule
Neutral -
below par
CEFR B2worse than the normal or expected standard
Neutral -
pass the buck
CEFR B2avoid accountability by shifting responsibility or blame to another person
Neutral -
fall by the wayside
CEFR B2be abandoned, neglected, or fail before completion
Neutral -
go to the wall
CEFR C1collapse or fail completely, particularly as a business or financial venture
Neutral -
go up in smoke
CEFR B2be completely ruined or fail, leaving nothing of the original plan
Neutral -
sour grapes
CEFR C1disparaging something desirable after failing to obtain it
Neutral -
body blow
CEFR B2a major setback that seriously weakens a person, organization, or effort
Neutral -
fall on deaf ears
CEFR B2to be ignored without producing any response or acknowledgment
Neutral -
draw a blank
CEFR B2to be unable to recall or produce the needed answer or information
Neutral -
carry the can
CEFR C1To take the blame or responsibility for a problem, especially when others avoid doing so.
Neutral -
go round in circles
CEFR B2To repeat the same discussion or actions without reaching a solution or making progress.
Neutral -
into thin air
CEFR B2Away so completely and suddenly that no trace or explanation remains.
Neutral -
dead and buried
CEFR B2completely abandoned, with no realistic chance that a plan or idea will return
Neutral -
kiss of death
CEFR B2something that seems helpful but instead causes eventual failure or ruin
Neutral -
pie in the sky
CEFR B2an attractive ambition with almost no realistic prospect of being achieved
Neutral -
go to the dogs
CEFR B2to deteriorate severely from an earlier, better condition
Neutral -
go to seed
CEFR B2to become neglected, untidy, or generally worse in condition
Neutral -
too clever by half
CEFR B2clever in a self-defeating way, so one's crafty plan causes trouble instead of success
Neutral -
out of the running
CEFR B2no longer being considered for a prize, position, or competition
Neutral -
put the boot in
CEFR C1to attack harshly, especially when the target is already vulnerable or beaten
Informal -
pick holes
CEFR B2to scrutinize something in order to expose its flaws
Neutral -
famous last words
CEFR B2a confident prediction or claim that events soon prove completely wrong
Neutral