failed

fail (someone) on (something)

To give someone a failing grade on a school assignment. You clearly put zero effort into this essay—that's why I failed you on it.
See also: fail, on

fail in (something)

1. To not have high enough grades to pass a particular class. My parents got my report card and grounded me because I'm failing in two classes.
2. To not award a student a passing grade in a particular class. In this usage, a noun or pronoun can be used between "fail" and "in." I failed you in biology because you missed so many classes this semester.
3. To not be successful in an attempt to do something. So far, I've failed in my efforts to find an internship for the summer.
See also: fail

fail of success

To not reach a goal or accomplishment. I know you worked hard on the fundraiser, so I'm really sorry to hear that you failed of success. After not making the team last year, I'm really hoping I don't fail of success this time around.
See also: fail, of, success

fail out

To have to leave a school or university because one does not have passing grades. One B won't kill you—it's not like you're going to fail out of college or something.
See also: fail, out

fail over

In a computer system, to switch automatically to a spare, backup, or alternative component when another one fails. We've put new protocols in place to ensure that the computer will fail over to functioning memory blocks in the event of a critical error.
See also: fail, over

fail the smell test

To be morally questionable, unacceptable, or untrustworthy. The new pro-drilling bill that's being put through Congress certainly fails the smell test, and many are suspicious that Big Oil has been responsible for its inception.
See also: fail, smell, test
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.

fail out

v.
To be forced to leave an academic institution because of unsatisfactory grades: My cousin is failing out of law school.
See also: fail, out
The American Heritage® Dictionary of Phrasal Verbs.
See also:
  • fail (someone) on (something)
  • fail on
  • failing
  • a shot in the locker
  • buddy up
  • have done
  • have done with
  • have done with (someone or something)
  • be/have done with somebody/something
  • done with (someone or something)
References in periodicals archive
Shorter & Co (London) Limited, Greenwich SE3, failed to pay 560.28 to 6 workers.
Kids in Charge (Making a Choice for a Better Future) Ltd, Redbridge IG1, failed to pay [pounds sterling]552.15 to 1 worker.
Forever Warm Homes Ltd, Newry, Mourne and Down BT35, failed to pay [pounds sterling]535.68 to 1 worker.
Gordon Hotels Limited trading as The Queens Hotel, Bournemouth BH1, failed to pay [pounds sterling]534.18 to 3 workers.
Essex and Suffolk Quality Care Ltd., Tendring CO16, failed to pay [pounds sterling]517.4 to 2 workers.
Edmundson Electrical Limited, Cheshire East WA16, failed to pay [pounds sterling]507.09 to 1 worker.
Falkirk Football and Athletic Club (The) trading as Falkirk Athletic F.C., Falkirk FK2, failed to pay [pounds sterling]494.51 to 1 worker.
Y2K Hair & Beauty Limited, Wiltshire SN15, failed to pay [pounds sterling]483.5 to 1 worker.
Coventry and Warwickshire firms among 260 named and shamed for not paying minimum wage; Employers in the city and surrounding region have been ordered to make thousands of pounds in repayments
Bridge End House Nursery Limited, Calderdale HD6, failed to pay [pounds sterling]41,938.73 to 2 workers.
Globebrow Limited, trading as Manor Adventure, Shropshire SY7, failed to pay [pounds sterling]33,889.80 to 111 workers.
Moy Park Limited, Armagh City, Banbridge and Craigavon BT63, failed to pay [pounds sterling]33,547.57 to 338 workers.
Daniele Petteno Ltd, trading as Daniele Petteno Architecture Workshop, Wandsworth SW15, failed to pay [pounds sterling]28,410.25 to 12 workers.
Beautiful Spots Limited, trading as Benito Brow Bar, Islington B2, failed to pay [pounds sterling]27,184.28 to 97 workers.
Threshold Housing Project Limited, trading as Threshold, Tameside OL6, failed to pay [pounds sterling]26,033.75 to 41 workers.
Heather Park Community Services Limited, North Lanarkshire ML2, failed to pay [pounds sterling]26,018.63 to 73 workers.
Birmingham City FC among 179 employers named and shamed for underpaying minimum wage workers; The Government also fined the employers a total of [pounds sterling]1.3 million in penalties for breaking national minimum wage laws