English idioms about failure.
Failure is an inevitable part of life, a universal experience that transcends cultures and languages. While it might not be the most pleasant topic to discuss, acknowledging and understanding failure is essential for personal growth and development. Learning from our mistakes, whether big or small, is a crucial aspect of the human experience. In this blog post, we'll delve into a set of idiomatic expressions related to failure in the English language.
Dead in the Water
Definition: To be completely stuck or unable to make progress.
Example: Without a proper business plan, the new company was dead in the water from the start.
A Dead Loss
Definition: Something or someone completely unsuccessful or without any value.
Example: Despite numerous attempts, the product proved to be a dead loss in the market.
Back to Square One
Definition: To start over from the beginning.
Example: After the computer crashed, I had to go back to square one and retype the entire report.
Blow Up in Your Face
Definition: To fail disastrously and unexpectedly, often with negative consequences.
Example: His attempt to save money by buying a cheap car battery blew up in his face when it died after just a month.
Down the Drain
Definition: To waste something, typically time, effort, or money.
Example: All the hard work I put into that project went down the drain when the client decided to cancel it.
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English Idioms in Use- Intermediate
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Fall at the First Hurdle
Definition: To fail at the very beginning of a task or endeavor.
Example: She had big dreams of becoming a famous singer, but she fell at the first hurdle when she couldn't pass the audition.
Fall by the Wayside
Definition: To fail or be forgotten, especially when facing competition or challenges.
Example: It’s important not to let sleep fall by the wayside when you’re studying for exams.
Fight a Losing Battle
Definition: To struggle relentlessly, even though the chances of success are minimal.
Example: Trying to convince the stubborn manager to change his mind was like fighting a losing battle.
Go Belly Up
Definition: To go bankrupt or become financially ruined.
Example: Despite all his hard work, the business went belly up in less than six months.
Let Slip Through Your Fingers
Definition: To lose an opportunity or something valuable due to negligence.
Example: He let his chance for a promotion slip through his fingers by not completing the required training.
Go Up in Smoke
Definition: To disappear or fail suddenly and completely.
Example: All their hopes of a peaceful vacation went up in smoke when their flight got canceled.
Make a Pig's Ear of Something
Definition: To do something very badly or incompetently.
Example: I made a pig's ear of trying to fix the leaky tap and ended up flooding the kitchen.
Put the Kibosh on Something
Definition: To stop or prevent something from happening.
Example: His constant complaining put the kibosh on our plans for a road trip.
Throw a Spanner in the Works
Definition: To disrupt or complicate a situation, making it more difficult to succeed.
Example: The unexpected rainstorm threw a spanner in the works for our outdoor picnic.
These idioms add color and depth to the English language, but they can be quite perplexing for EFL students. By familiarizing yourself with these expressions and practicing their usage, you'll be better equipped to understand and communicate effectively in English, even when the conversation turns to the topic of failure.