fail at
She failed at her first attempt to pass the exam.
She was unsuccessful in passing the exam on her first try.
to be unsuccessful in doing something
He failed at his job interview because he was too nervous.
He was unsuccessful in his job interview due to nervousness.
The company failed at launching its new product.
The company was unsuccessful in launching its new product.
This phrasal verb is commonly used to describe a lack of success in a specific task or endeavor.
Collocations
Antonyms
Related Phrases
Pro Tip
Common Usage
'Fail at' is often used to describe a lack of success in a specific task or endeavor. It can be used in both formal and informal contexts.
Gold Rule
Correct Usage
Use 'fail at' to describe a lack of success in a specific task or endeavor. Avoid using it to describe a general lack of success or failure in life.
Word Origin
The verb 'fail' comes from Middle English 'faillen,' meaning 'to be lacking.' The preposition 'at' is used to indicate the specific task or endeavor where the failure occurred.
Usage Notes
This phrasal verb is often used in informal and formal contexts to describe a lack of success. It can be used to talk about personal failures, professional failures, or failures in various endeavors.