fail to do stk So far; scientists have failed to find a cure for the disease.
not succeed /nDt sok'snd to fail to do
was
something, or not be completely successfuclass="underline" Simon had tried several times to get a job in TV, but he never succeeded. not succeed in doing stK I didn't really succeed in convincing her that I telling the truth.
when a plan or attempt
does not succeed
opposite SUCCEED
/ail /feil/ [v I] if a plan or attempt fails, it does not achieve what you want it to achieve: Try changing the spark plugs, but if that fails take the car to a mechanic. I They said the latest space mission was bound to fail.
fail to do sth The investigation failed to establish the cause of the accident.
failure [n U] lack of success: an attempt
to climb the Alps that ended in failure + of the failure of the peace negotiations
unsuccessful /iAnssk'sesfeU [adj] an
unsuccessful attempt to do something does not have the result that you wanted: The army made an unsuccessful attempt to end the rebellion. I I regret to inform you that your application was unsuccessful.
FAIL
be a /ailure ^ э feilj^V to be unsuccessful - use this especially about something that fails even though it was very carefully planned: The government's expensive election campaign had been a failure. be a complete/total failure There was a 5 year plan to modernize the economy, but it was a complete failure.
go wrong /g^u 'год |-'nxi]' if something
that you are trying to do goes wrong, it fails after it has started welclass="underline" The experiment went wrong when the chemicals combined to form a poisonous gas. go badly wrong Mail completely) a mi/i- tary campaign that went badly wrong
Don't say 'he failed in the exam'. Say
not work /not W3:rk/ if a method or attempt does not work, it fails because it is not suitable or not right for the situation you are in: Teaching methods that work with adults do not always work with children, i I tried to fix it with glue, but that didn't work.
when you fall an exam or test
opposite pass see also test, drive
/ail /fed ' [u I/TJ to not succeed in an examination or test: Jonathan failed his law exams at the end of the year. I If I fail my driving test again, I'm going to give up. I We expected her to pass easily, but she failed by 15 marks.
A
he failed the exam or just he failed
/luak /Пл1]к/ [и I/T] AMERICAN INFORMAL to
fail an examination or test: Tony flunked chemistry. I I flunked, and had to do the test again.
И when something seems certain to fail
pointless 'pointbs/ \adj\ something that is pointless, is unlikely to have a very useful or successful result, so it would be better not to do it or try it: The argument was completely pointless. I a pointless waste of money
it is pointless doing sth It's pointless trying to speak to the boss - she's a/ways too busy
Qthere's no point/what's the
point? /Qedrz ,пэи pomt, ,wots бэ 'psint/
260
spoken say this when you think that it is useless to do something because you will not achieve anything useful by doing it: "Why don't you try to explain things to him?" "There's no point, he never listens to anything I say"there's no point CirO doing sth. There's no point in going shopping now - the stores will all be shut in half an hour. what's the point of doing sth? What's the point of taking the exam if you know you 're going to fail?
Obe a waste of time bi: э ,weisi э\- 'taim especially spokfn something that is a waste of time is unlikely to achieve any useful result, so you would be wasting your time if you tried tc do it
a complete waste of time These meetings are a complete waste of time. Nothing ever gets decided. it is a waste of time doing sth It 's a
waste of time going to the doctor - he'll just tell you to get plenty of rest.
when a company, shop, or business fails
^ opposite SUCCEED 4
see also business, company, shop
С Lose down /,khoz daon / [phrasa/ verb I] if a shop, factory, or business closes down, it stops making or selling things because it is no longer making a profit: If the factory closes down, 600 people will lose their jobs. I Л lot of small shops had to close down during the recession.
go out of business /gau ,aut 3V bizn^s if a company goes out of business, it
stops existing because it is no longer making a profit: Many small farms are going out of business.
go bankrupt /.gao Ьаетзкглрг/ if a person or company goes bankrupt, they cannot pay their debts, so they have to sell all their property and goods: The family grocery business went ban/erupt /asi year.
FAIR/UNFAIR
see also cruel
fair
fair Теэг/ [ad;] treating everyone equally,
or treating people in a way that most people think is right: The old system of student funding seemed much fairer. I a
fair way of dividing up the profits 1 a fair rent
it is fair that Do you think it's fair that she gets paid more money than me7 Qit's only fair spoken (=say this when you think that something would make a situation more fair) Her husband should help take care of the baby - it's only fair, be fair to sb (=treat them in a fair way) In order to be fair to everyone, ticket sales are limited to two for each person. <ZXto be fair spokf.n (=say this when you are giving a reason why someone should not be criticized too strongly) He really should have called you - though to be fair he's been very busy, fairly [adu] Her job is to make sure that the money is distributed fairly. /airness [n U] I wasn't sure about the fairness of the judge's decision.