Phrase Hound found 15 phrases and 5 compound words that contain fails. The most common are listed below. Open fails in the live search for definitions, filters, and the full list.
Phrases 15
- if all else failsIf none of someone's attempts or plans succeed.
- fails closedthird-person singular simple present indicative of fail closed: Of an access control system: to automatically block all traffic in the case of a failure. For example, an electronic safe becoming impossible to unlock in the event of a power …
- fails fastthird-person singular simple present indicative of fail fast: To report immediately any condition likely to cause a failure, rather than attempting to continue.
- fails openthird-person singular simple present indicative of fail open: Of an access control system: to automatically let all traffic through in the case of a failure. For example, an emergency door unlocking in the event of a power outage.
- fails outthird-person singular simple present indicative of fail out: To be forced to leave a school or university because of unsatisfactory grades.
- fails overthird-person singular simple present indicative of fail over: To automatically switch processing from a failed component in a critical system to its live spare or backup component.
- fails safethird-person singular simple present indicative of fail safe: That does not cause undue damage in the event of failure.
- fails upthird-person singular simple present indicative of fail up: To advance in one's career despite failure or incompetence.
- foster failsplural of foster fail: The situation in which a person intends to foster an animal temporarily but winds up adopting the animal permanently.
- male-failsthird-person singular simple present indicative of male-fail: Of a trans woman: to fail to pass as male; to make a successful male-to-female transition.
- epic failsplural of epic fail: An utter failure, especially where success should have been reasonably expected.
- fails upwardthird-person singular simple present indicative of fail upward: To advance in one's career despite failure or incompetence.
- fails at lifethird-person singular simple present indicative of fail at life: To be or become trapped in poverty, or in a situation where one is not doing anything productive with one's life; to become a loser.
- fails upwardsthird-person singular simple present indicative of fail upwards: To advance in one's career despite failure or incompetence.
- fails up the ladderthird-person singular simple present indicative of fail up the ladder: To advance in one's career despite failure or incompetence.
Compound words 5
- failsafeAlternative form of fail-safe: That does not cause undue damage in the event of failure.
- FailsworthA town in the Metropolitan Borough of Oldham, Greater Manchester, England (OS grid ref SD8901).
- boyfailsplural of boyfail: A fictional boy or man who is endearingly pathetic or inept.
- failsonsplural of failson: An incompetent, unsuccessful middle- or upper-class man who is protected from economic duress by his family's wealth or influence.
- malefailsthird-person singular simple present indicative of malefail: Of a trans woman: to fail to pass as male; to make a successful male-to-female transition.