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fail

fail

92 8.2
An embarrassing mistake that many people see online
  • noun
  • /feɪl/
  • Slang
translation icon : fail
  • This three day span was a complete fail and I am so embarrassed.
  • moral fail

Do people outload those fails to YouTube or is it not really?

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Examples

  • That video was a major fail and went viral for all the wrong reasons.

  • Let's start with the number one fail for me.

  • This was like the biggest brush fail of the entire year.

  • So yeah, it's not a complete fail, but I'm not really feeling this.

  • She's a liar and this was the biggest anchor fail of the evening.

  • Hi, we had a bit of a vlogging fail so this is what you're getting instead.

  • Her attempt at baking the cake was a funny fail that made everyone laugh.

  • The new product launch turned out to be a huge fail, disappointing many customers.

Synonyms

mistake
vsfail
1.0

A wrong action or decision

focuses on being conspicuous and embarrassing, often shared online
error
vsfail
  • Specialized
300 3.0

A computer problem that makes a program give a wrong result or stop

is a slang public, embarrassing action rather than a technical fault
failure
vsfail
79 1.8

Not doing something that should be done

is informal slang for a conspicuous, embarrassing action rather than omission
fiasco
vsfail
76 6.2

A complete embarrassing failure that happens suddenly and causes big problems

is a slang, conspicuous embarrassing act often shared online
flop
vsfail
44 4.3

A project or event that does not succeed

is more about a conspicuous, often shamed action seen online
dud
vsfail
  • Informal
14 4.7

Something that fails to work or please people

is instead an embarrassing, conspicuous act often noticed online

Antonyms

1.0

Getting what you want after working hard

262 3.3

A great victory or success that brings joy

Idioms

To feel so surprised or moved that you cannot find words to say

To be unable to say anything because you feel very surprised or moved

Compounds

fail-safe
  • Specialized
11 5.0

A device or system that makes a machine go to a safe state if it breaks

fail-safe
  • Specialized
3 5.6

Designed to work safely if something goes wrong

How Embarrassing

fiasco
76 6.2
fail
  • Slang
92 8.2
blunder
49 3.0
mistake
1.0
error
306 1.0

Surface Forms

fail singular
fails plural

Etymology

Fail as a slang noun is a short form of 'failure' and links back to fallere, which meant 'to disappoint'. A public fail is an obvious mistake that 'lets people down' and so becomes a funny or embarrassing moment online.