Failure Idioms

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come to grief

Meaning: to have an accident or suffer disaster.

Example: Their relationship came to grief following their disastrous vacation. Read more ➺


at cross purposes

Meaning: With aims or goals that conflict or interfere with one another.

Example: It will be difficult for us to be successful if we continue working at cross-purposes. Read more ➺


in vain

Meaning: without success

Example: It seems as if the merger will go through and all our hard work has been in vain. Read more ➺


famous last words

Meaning: a comment or a prophecy that is expected to be proved incorrect

Example: I was thinking that I will not have dinner today. Famous last words, I am very hungry. Read more ➺


lose it

Meaning: go insane or crazy

Example: I thought he had lost it when he told me how much his new car had cost. Read more ➺


up a blind alley

Meaning: to be doing something that will definitely have a negative outcome

Example: The trip was up a blind alley it seems because the travel agent could not even jot down a proper itinerary. I wonder why they booked a holiday with such a shady company anyway. Read more ➺


go down like a lead balloon

Meaning: be poorly received by an audience

Example: The joke he cracked went down like a lead balloon. Read more ➺


flash in the pan

Meaning: A brief but intense effort or success that doesn't lead to lasting or repeated results.

Example: It seemed promising early on, but flash in the pan efforts often fizzle without follow-through. Read more ➺


close, but no cigar

Meaning: be very close to accomplishing a goal but fall short

Example: You did quite well for someone who was playing for the first time. You attempt for close, but no cigar. Read more ➺


do or die

Meaning: a situation in which you must take a big risk in order to avoid failure

Example: A do-or-die attempt to halt the invaders. Read more ➺


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