Reverse Dictionary: FAIL

ADJECTIVES
► BLOWN OUT ruined, failed → 2007 US sl. (Bk.)
► BUSTED failed → 1925 US sl.
► DYING ON ITS ARSE failing → 2001 UK sl.
► FAILABLE liable to fail or give way; unreliable → 1561 obs.
► GONE DEMOCRATIC failed, gone against one → 1893 Amer. dial.
► LEEFUL kind-hearted, sympathetic, considerate, compassionate → 1721 Sc.
► MUFFED spoilt, bungled, failed → L19 sl.
► ON A BUST failing, doing badly → M19 sl.
► UP THE CHUTE useless, worthless, failed, in serious trouble → 1941 Aust. sl.

INTERJECTIONS & PHRASES
► ALL THE FAT IS IN THE FIRE used to indicate that a plan has failed → M16 sl. 
► BLOOEY!, ► BLOOIE! used to denote failure or collapse → 1920s sl.
► CAUGHT IN HIS OWN LOOP said of one who fails through some fault of his own → 1945 US Western usage (Bk.)
► DYING ON ITS ARSE failing → 2001 UK sl.
► HIS NAME IS PANTS he is discredited or unpopular, or he has failed → 1886 US colloq.
► ONE’S CAKE IS DOUGH one’s project has failed → 1596 obs.
► THAT CAKE’S ALL DOUGH denotes that a project or undertaking has failed → 1895 Eng. dial.
► THAT CAKE’S ALL DUFF denotes that a project or undertaking has failed → 1895 Eng. dial.

NOUNS
► ABORTION something of very poor quality; a messy failure; a misfortune; an ugly person or thing → 1943 US sl.
► ALSO-RAN a useless person; a failure; an irrelevance → L19 sl., orig. Aust. horse-racing usage
► AMAUNGE a muddle, a failure → 1905 Eng. dial. (Bk.)
► BAD IRON failure; misadventure; bad luck → 1896 workmen’s sl. (Bk.)
► BALK the failure of an expectation; a disappointment → 1733
► BAUM a failure → 1895 Amer. dial. obs.
► BELLYFLOP a total failure → 2007 sl. (Bk.)
► BIFF a failure → 1934 students’ sl. (Bk.)
► BLAST a complete or conspicuous failure → 1975 US sl. (Bk.)
► BLOIT a failure, a collapse → 1889 Eng. dial.
► BLOODY MURDER a decisive defeat; complete ruin or failure; an exhausting task → 1975 US sl. (Bk.)
► BLOOMER a very great mistake; an error; a failure → 1889 sl.
► BLOOTER a failure, a mess; an instance of excessive behaviour → 1970 UK sl. (Bk.)
► BLUE DUCK a disappointment; a dud; a lost cause, a failure → 1889 Aust. & NZ sl.
► BLUE RUIN a catastrophe; complete ruin, failure, or disgrace → 1975 US sl. (Bk.)
► BOBBLE an unsuccessful undertaking; a failure → 1920 Amer. dial.
► BOMB a conspicuous failure, esp. a performance or entertainment which receives bad reviews and public disapproval → 1975 US sl. (Bk.)
► BREAK a breakaway or break-down; a collapse or failure → 1827 US
► BUMMER a disappointing, unpleasant, or unwanted situation; a disappointment, a failure → 1967 orig. US
► BURST-UP the failure or collapse of an organization or scheme → 1879
► BUST a failure, a flop; a disappointing person or experience → 1879
► BUST-OUT a collapse or failure; hence, a smash-up; a person who is a failure → 1963 US sl.
► BUST-UP 1. an explosion; hence, a wreck, break-up; an accident or disaster; a failure → 1842 US sl.
2. a financial or commercial failure → 1981 Aust. colloq. (Bk.)
► CRACK  a flaw, deficiency, failing, unsoundness → 1570
► CRASH AND BURN a complete or spectacular failure → 1985 colloq.
► CROPPER a severe misfortune, personal failure, etc. → M19 colloq.
► CRULLER a failure; an unsuccessful performance or entertainment → 1974 Amer. sl. (Bk.)
► DAMP SQUIB something that fails to come to a conclusion; a fiasco; a failure; a dud → 1845 Amer. sl.
► DEADBEAT of things: a failure, a deception → 1866 sl., orig. US
► DEAD DUCK a complete, irredeemable failure → 1829 US sl.
► DEAD FROST a fiasco, a complete failure → c1875 theatrical sl.
► DEAD LOSS an absolutely useless person, idea, or undertaking; a useless, unworkable object; a complete failure; an absolute waste of time or money → 1927 sl., orig. Royal Air Force
► DEAD NIP an unimportant project that turns out to be a failure → L19 sl.
► DEAD PIGEON a guaranteed and absolute failure; often in context of a forthcoming election → 1910s US sl.
► DEFAILANCE ► DEFAILLANCE failing, failure → 1603 obs.
► DEFAILLANCY failing, failure → 1649 obs.
► DEFAILMENT failure → 1612 obs.
► DEFAILURE failure → a1677 obs.
► DEFALCATION falling away, defection; shortcoming, failure, delinquency → 1750
► DEFALLATION failure, failing → 1490 obs.
► DIMRACKER a disaster; a complete failure → 1900 Eng. dial. (Bk.)
► DOG a thing of poor quality; something worthless or inferior; a failure, a dud → 1917 sl., orig. US
► DRYNESS a being dried up; failure, cessation → 1625 obs.
► DUD a worthless or unsuccessful person or thing; a failure → 1915 UK sl.
► FAILANCE the fact of failing; failure, neglect, omission→ 1612 obs.
► FAILERY a failure → 1913 Amer. dial.
► FAILLZENCY default, failure → 1710 Sc. obs.
► FAILYIE failure, non-performance → 1551 Sc. obs.
► FAILZURE failure → 1726 Sc obs.
► FALSENESS the fact of failing or ‘giving way’ → 1552 obs.
► FAULT default, failing, neglect → c1325 obs.
► FAULTURE a failing → 1828
► FERLY a trifle, a slight peculiarity or eccentricity; a failing, foible → 1849 Eng. dial.
► FIST a poor attempt, failure, mess → 1833 Amer. dial.
► FIZZER a disappointing failure, a fiasco → 1957 Aust. sl.
► FIZZLE a failure or fiasco; a failure in recitation or examination → 1846
► FLAMEOUT a complete failure
► FLASH IN THE PAN a failure → 1913 Amer. dial. (Bk.)
► FLAT a failure → 1893 Amer. sl. (Bk.)
► FLIP a failure, a flop → 1967 Amer. dial.
► FLIVVER a failure → 1914 US students’ sl. (Bk.)
► FLOMMUCK a failure, a fiasco → 1937 Amer. dial.
► FLOP a complete, dismal failure → 1919 US sl.
► FLOPPEROO a failure → 1931 US sl.
► FLOP SWEAT a panic associated with the possibility of failure, whether or not actual perspiration is involved → 1966 US sl.
► FLUKE a fiasco; a failure → US Civil War usage
► FLUMMUX a failure → 19C Amer. dial.
► FLUNK a failure → M19 Amer. dial.
► GAFFLE defeat, failure, betrayal → 1990s African-American sl.
► GOOSE EGG a failure; a zero → 2006 US sl. (Bk.)
► ILL SUCCESS failure, misadventure, misfortune → 1823 arch.
► KAKORRHAPHIOPHOBIA an abnormal fear of failure or defeat → 1991 (Bk.)
► KISS OF DEATH something that causes failure, destruction, etc. → colloq.
► LARRY a failure → 1980s US sl.
► LEAD BALLOON a failure; a flop→ 1954 US sl.
► LEEKAM a bad end or result; a catastrophe; a dismal failure → 1929 Sc.
► MUCK-UP a complete failure; confusion or muddle; a botch → L19 colloq.
► NAILS a disappointment; a failure → 1981 Hawaiian youth usage
► NO GO a failure, something that is not good; a hopeless attempt → 1824 UK sl.
► NO-HOPER something doomed to failure → 1944 colloq.
► NO-NO an impossibility; a failure; any negative outcome → 1975 UK sl.
► PRATFALL a humiliating defeat; a sudden failure → 1950s sl., orig. US
► PURLER a sudden dramatic misfortune or failure → 1850 colloq.
► QUINCE of a situation or object: a failure → 1900s US sl.
► SMASH a failure → 1934 students’ sl. (Bk.)
► STIFF a failure → 1960s sl.
► STINK BOMB something that fails badly → 1970s US sl.
► TURKEY an inferior show, esp. a failure → 1927 US show business usage
► WANT a defect, failing, fault; a shortcoming → 1592 obs.
► WASH-OUT a failure or fiasco → 1984 Aust. colloq. (Bk.)
► WIPE-OUT a failure; a fiasco → 1984 Aust. colloq. (Bk.)

NOUNS – PERSON
► BED-WETTER one who is a failure; an incompetent person → 2002 US sl.
► BIG L a person who is a failure; a loser → 1984 US students’ sl.
► BUST-OUT a collapse or failure; hence, a smash-up; a person who is a failure → 1963 US sl.
► CRASH AND BURN a person who fails, often as a result of risky or reckless behaviour; a person who has impressive but brief success → 1985 colloq.
► DEADBEAT of people: a failure, a down-and-out, an impoverished person; a person down on their luck; a jobless and homeless person → M19 sl., orig. US
► DEAD DUCK a person lacking good prospects; a person or thing doomed to failure or disaster; one whose case is hopeless; a goner → 1829 sl.
► DEADLEG a down-and-out, a failure → 1960s sl.
► DUD a worthless or unsuccessful person or thing; a failure → 1915 UK sl.
► FAIL one that fails or disappoints → 1900 Eng. dial. (Bk.)
► FLOP a dull, unpleasant person; a misfit, a failure → 1965 Amer. dial.
► FLUNKEE ► FLUNKEY ► FLUNKY 1. one who fails → 1913 Amer. students’ sl. (Bk.)
2. one who fails an examination → 19C US students’ sl.
► FLUNKER one who regularly fails their examinations or recitations → L19 US students’ sl.
► GONER someone who is doomed to failure → 1970 US sl.
► HELEN MOVIESTAR someone who tries too hard; a future failure → 1972 homosexual sl.  (Bk.)
► MORNING GLORY a person who fails to fulfil apparent potential or maintain early achievement → 1898 colloq.
► NO-HOPER a hopeless person; a useless or incompetent person; someone or something doomed to failure → 1944 colloq.
► NO-USER a shiftless or useless person; a failure → 1985 Irish & Sc. sl.
► PIKER a useless person; a failure → Aust. & NZ sl.
► PROUGHAL ► PROUGHLE a person who has failed to do something he or she has boasted to do → 1983 Irish sl.
► SAD SAL a failure; an unpopular person → 1943 US teen sl.
► SAD SAM a failure; an unpopular person → 1943 US teen sl.
► WICKED LOSER a failure; a loser in a temporary way, esp. a person who could have avoided being a failure → 1989 US students’ sl. (Bk.)
► YUTZ a fool, an idiot; a simpleton; a failure → 1983 US sl.

VERBS
► ARSE UP to spoil; to cause to fail → 1996 Aust. sl. (Bk.)
► BAG to botch, to do poorly on something, to fail → 1968 Amer. sl.
► BALL UP to fail → 1856 sl. obs.
► BANK to become bankrupt, to fail → 1790 Eng. dial.
► BE COPPERED ON THE JACK to fail; to lose one’s point (from the game of faro) → 1878 Amer. sl.
► BE LEFT to fail; to be outdistances metaphorically; to be placed in a difficult situation → c1895 colloq.
► BIFF to fail → 1934 US students’ sl. (Bk.)
► BILGE to fail in one’s course of study or a class → c1925 US sl.
► BILGE OUT to fail a student; to expel a student → 1951 US sl.
► BITE THE DUST to break; to fail; to give out → 2006 US sl. (Bk.)
► BLOCK to fail → 1967 US students’ sl. (Bk.)
► BLOW to fail at something → 1995 US sl. (Bk.)
► BLOW UP to be out of order; to fail, to collapse → 1923 Amer. dial.
► BOMB to fail a test, exam, etc. → Aust. sl.
► BOUNCE to fail → 1934 students’ sl. (Bk.)
► BRING ONE’S EGGS TO A BAD MARKET to suffer the failure of one’s schemes → 1809
► BRING ONE’S HOGS TO A BAD MARKET to suffer the failure of one’s schemes → a1616
► BUM OUT to fail a test → 1970 US students’ sl. (Bk.)
► BURST ONE’S BOILER to come to grief, to meet with disaster or failure → 1824 colloq.
► BUST A HAME STRING to fail in an undertaking → 1923 Amer. dial.
► BUST ONE’S BOILER to come to grief, to meet with disaster or failure → 1834 colloq.
► CLANK to fail to perform under pressure → 1969 US Air Force Academy cadets’ sl. (Bk.)
► CLUTCH to fail completely under duress → 1966 US students’ sl. (Bk.)
► COME A BUSTER to fail, usually because of a misfortune → 1981 Aust. colloq. (Bk.)
► COME A CROPPER to have a setback; to fail badly → 1874 sl.
► COME A GUTSER to come undone; to fail miserably; to fall heavily; to trip over and fall → 1918 Aust. sl.
► COME A PURLER to fall heavily head first; so suffer sudden misfortune or failure → 1908 colloq.
► COME OUT OF THE LITTLE END OF THE HORN ► COME OUT THE LITTLE END OF THE HORN to end in failure → 1838 Amer. dial.
► COME TO GRIEF to get into serious trouble; to fail → 1850 UK
► COME UNGLUED to fail, to deteriorate into chaos → 1993 Amer. dial.
► COME UNSTUCK to fail, to deteriorate into chaos → 1993 Amer. dial.
► CRACK THE BELL to fail, to muddle things, to make a mistake, to ruin it → 1909 Cockneys’ sl.
► CRACK UP to fail in an examination → US Civil War usage
► CRAP OUT to be unsuccessful, to lose out, to lose; to fail → 1891 US sl.
► CRASH AND BURN to fail utterly → 1978 US sl.
► CRATER to fail, to be ruined → 2009 Amer. sl. (Bk.)
► CUT A GUT to make a mistake, esp. an embarrassing one; to do something silly or foolish; to fail in a task → 1923 Amer. dial.
► DEAL IN ZEROES to achieve nothing; to fail completely; to draw a blank → 1960s African-American sl.
► DECADE ► DECAID to fall down, to fail → a1500 Sc. obs.
► DEFAULT 1. to be wanting; to fail → c1340 obs.
2. to fail in strength or vigour, to faint; to suffer failure → 1382 obs.
► DIE ON ONE’S ARSE to fail badly; to suffer an irreversible decline, to come to a sudden or premature end → 1984
► DIP OUT to come off worse; to miss out on an opportunity; to fail → 1987 UK sl.
► DO A BRODIE to fail, to slip back into bad habits → L19 sl.
► DRIFT ASTERN ► DROP ASTERN to fail of success → 1945 Amer. dial.
► DROP ONE’S CANDY to make a big blunder or serious mistake; to do something to cause the failure of a plan → 1905 Amer. dial. (Bk.)
► DROP THE BALL to fail at something; to allow something to fail → 2006 US sl. (Bk.)
► EAT IT to fail → 1995 US sl. (Bk.)
► EXFLUNCT to cause to fail, to render useless, to overcome completely → 1831 Amer. dial.
► EXFLUNCTIFY to cause to fail, to render useless, to overcome completely → 1840 Amer. dial.
► FADE to grow small or weak; to decline, decay, fail, or faint; to shrink → 1388 obs.
► FAIL OUT to fail → 1910 Amer. dial.
► FALL to fail → 1910 sl.
► FALL ASTERN to lose ground, to fail → 1945 Amer. dial.
► FALL DOWN ► FALL DOWN ON to fail; to ‘come to grief’ → 1899 US sl.
► FALL DOWN AND GO BOOM to fail, esp. utterly and obviously → 1930s Amer. sl.
► FALL DOWN ON THE JOB to fail at one’s responsibilities; to shirk an obligation → 1898 Amer. sl.
► FALL FLAT ON ONE’S ASS ► FALL ON ONE’S ASS to fail, esp. ignominiously and spectacularly → 1940s Amer. sl.
► FALL FLAT ON ONE’S FACE ► FALL ON ONE’S FACE to make an embarrassing mistake, failed attempt, catastrophic decline, etc. → 1970s Amer. sl.
► FALSE of a thing: to prove unreliable, to fail, to give way → c1205 obs.
► FAULT to come short of a standard; to make default, to fail → a1400 obs.
► FISH FOR HERRING AND CATCH A WHALE to fail miserably → 19C
► FIZZ to fizzle out, to fail → 1960 Amer. dial.
► FIZZLE ► FIZZLE OUT to fail, to make a fiasco, to come a lame conclusion → a1848 US colloq.
► FLAG to fail a test → 1970 US students’ sl. (Bk.)
► FLAT to fail; to give way → 1893 sl. (Bk.)
► FLICKER to fail, to back out → 1890 Amer. dial.
► FLICKER UP to fail to be unsuccessful → 1903 Amer. dial.
► FLITTER OUT to fail → 1939 Amer. dial.
► FLIVVER to fail → 1934 students’ sl. (Bk.)
► FLOP to fail completely → 1900 US sl.
► FLUB THE DUB to blunder, to botch, to fail → 1946 Amer. dial.
► FLUMMOX ► FLUMMUX to blunder; to fail; to die → M19 US sl.
► FLUNK ► FLUNK OUT 1. to fail an examination; to give a fail mark → E19 sl., orig. US students’ usage
2. to fail; to blunder; to make a mistake → L19 US sl.
► FLY A FLAG to fail a test or course → 1966 US students’ sl. (Bk.)
► FOLD to fail; to close → 2006 US sl. (Bk.)
► FOUR OUT to fail → 1934 students’ sl. (Bk.)
► GET LEFT to fail; to be outdistanced metaphorically; to be placed in a difficult situation → c1895 colloq.
► GET SHOT DOWN to fail an exam; to do very poor work → 1969 US sl. (Bk.)
► GO ALL MOODY ON to fail, to go wrong → 1930s sl.
► GO ASHORE TO WINDWARD to go wrong or fail with no excuse for it → 1916 Amer. dial.
► GO ASTERN to fail of success → 1945 Amer. dial.
► GO BLOOEY ► GO BLOOIE to cease operating properly; to collapse or fall apart; to fail suddenly → 1931 US sl.
► GO BUNG to die; to fail; to go bankrupt → 1882 Aust. & NZ sl.
► GO DOWN IN FLAMES to fail spectacularly → 2006 US sl. (Bk.)
► GO DOWN LIKE A LEAD BALLOON to fail → 2009 Amer. sl. (Bk.)
► GO DOWN THE CHUTE to fail totally; to be ruined → 2006 US sl. (Bk.)
► GO FLOOEY ► GO FLOOIE to cease operating properly; to collapse or fall apart; to fail suddenly → 1931 US sl.
► GO FOR A SKATE to fail; to be brought up before court → 1962 NZ sl.
► GO OFF AT HALF-COCK to speak or act without due forethought or preparation, and consequently to fail in attaining one’s object → 1848
► GO OVER LIKE A LEAD BALLOON to be an utter failure → 1950 US sl.
► GO PEAR-SHAPED of plans or schemes: to fail; to collapse; to go wrong → 1990s sl.
► GO TITANIC to fail; to sink → 2006 US sl. (Bk.)
► GO TO THE BOW-WOWS ‘go to the dogs’; to fail → 1839 Amer. sl.
► GO TO THE PACK to fail persistently → E20 Aust. & NZ colloq.
► GO TO THE WALL to fail in business, to be ruined, to collapse financially → 1842
► GO UNDER to fail; to perish; to die → 1848 Amer. dial.
► GUTSER to fall; to fail badly → 20C Aust. sl.
► HIT THE CEILING to fail in examination → 1900 Amer. sl.
► KAZONK to fail an exam, or to do very poor work → 1969 US students’ sl. (Bk.)
► LAUGH ON THE OTHER SIDE OF ONE’S FACE to cry; to experience unexpected failure, defeat, or regret → 1946 Amer. dial.
► LAUGH ON THE OTHER SIDE OF ONE’S MOUTH to cry; to experience unexpected failure, defeat, or regret → 1843 Amer. dial.
► LAUGH ON THE WRONG SIDE OF ONE’S MOUTH to cry; to experience unexpected failure, defeat, or regret → 1899 Amer. dial.
► LAUGH OUT OF THE OTHER CORNER OF ONE’S MOUTH to cry; to experience unexpected failure, defeat, or regret → 1912 Amer. dial.
► LEESE to fail to do something → a1300 obs.
► LOSE ONE’S TAFFY to fail → 1927 Amer. dial.
► LOSE THE FANG to miss one’s aim; to fail in an attempt → 1825 Sc.
► LOSE THE HOG FOR A HALFPENNYWORTH OF TAR to lose an object, spoil an enterprise or court failure by trying to save in a small matter of detail → 1670
► LOSE THE SHEEP FOR A HALFPENNYWORTH OF TAR to lose an object, spoil an enterprise or court failure by trying to save in a small matter of detail → 1678
► LOSE THE SHIP FOR A HALFPENNYWORTH OF TAR to lose an object, spoil an enterprise or court failure by trying to save in a small matter of detail → 1869
► LUNCH to spoil, to ruin, to fail → 1950s US students’ sl.
► MAKE A SPOON OR SPOIL A HORN to make a determined effort to achieve something, whether ending in success or failure; to succeed in an enterprise or fail deplorably → 1880
► MANK to fail; to be insufficient → 1737 Sc. obs.
► MANKIE to fail; to miss → 1882 Sc.
► MISCANTER to fail, to be disappointed in an undertaking → 1903 Eng. dial.   (Bk.)
► MISGIVE to fail, to fall through, to miscarry → 1631 Sc.   obs.
► MISGO to go wrong; to go astray; to fail, to miscarry → 1766 Sc. & Eng. dial.  
► MISS ONE’S TIP to fail in one’s aim or object → 1854 sl., orig. circus usage
► MISS STAYS to fail, to make a mistake → 1907 Amer. dial.
► MISSTAY to fail, to make a mistake → 1916 Amer. dial.
► MISS THE BUS to lose an opportunity; to fail in an undertaking → 1915 sl.
► MISS THE CUSHION to miss the mark; to make a mistake; to err; to fail in an attempt → c1525 obs.
► MUCK to fail at → L19 sl.
► NICKEL to fail a course → 1967 US students’ sl. (Bk.)
► NOT GET ANYWHERE to fail to reach your goal; to not succeed in achieving your object → 1932 US sl.
► PEG OUT to fail completely → 1854 Amer. sl.
► PIP to reject or disqualify; to fail a candidate in an examination; of a candidate: to fail an examination → 1908
► PLAY WHALEY to fail in doing something → 1897 Amer. dial. (Bk.)
► POINT THE BONE AT to predict or will the failure of an enterprise; to bring defeat or failure on a person; later, to accuse, to blame, to condemn a person → 1923 Aust. colloq.
► POOH OUT to fail, to grow weak or tired; to come to night  → 1930 Amer. dial.
► PUNCH to fail at or to ruin something; esp. to fail a course in school → 1974 Amer. sl. (Bk.)
► QUAIL to fail or give way; to break down → c1440 obs. exc. Eng. dial.
► RANK to fail, esp. in the commission of a crime → 1920s US criminals’ sl.
► RAVEL THE CLEW to fail in business → 19C Eng. dial.
► RETURN BY WEEPING CROSS to regret deeply some undertaking, and repent of it; to be in a state of lamentation; to fail; to suffer defeat → 1659
► RUN ASTERN to fail of success → 1945 Amer. dial.
► SCAT to fail; to become bankrupt, to collapse → 1904 Eng. dial. (Bk.)
► SHEG UP to fail, to collapse → 2011 W. Indies
► SMASH to fail financially; to be ruined; to become bankrupt → 1839 colloq.
► SOUP to place in difficulties, to cause to fail, to bring to grief → 1895 colloq.
► SPIN to fail in an examination → 1869
► STRIKE THE BALL UNDER THE LINE to fail in one’s purpose → 1546
► TAKE A BRODIE to fail, to slip back into bad habits → L19 sl.
► TAKE A DIVE to fail → 1980s sl., orig. US
► TAKE A DROP to find oneself in difficulties; to come to grief → 1970s US sl.
► TAKE A NOSE-DIVE to collapse; to fail utterly → 1920s sl.
► TAKE GAS to do badly on anything → 1970 US students’ sl. (Bk.)
► TAKE IT ON THE CHIN to suffer a severe failure; to undergo complete defeat or frustration → 20C Amer. colloq.
► TAKE OFF to fail, to give way, to break down → 1900 Sc.
► TAKE THE PIPE to fail to act or achieve under pressure, esp. in sports; hence, to be punished → 1960s US sl.
► TANK to fail → 1920s sl.
► TAP OUT to fail, to ‘draw a blank’ → 1960s sl.
► TINE ONE’S ERRAND to fail in an errand or purpose → 1873  Sc.
► TIRE to fail, to cease (as a supply, etc.); to diminish; to give out, to come to an end → c725 obs.
► TUBE ► TUBE IT to fail an examination → 1966 US students’ sl. (Bk.)
► UNBESEEM to fail in, to fall short of → 1812
► WANT 1. to fail; to give out; to be insufficient for a purpose, etc. → c1400
2. to fail to do something; to be wanting in one’s endeavours → 1426
► WASH OUT to fail and expel someone from a course or training → 1970 US sl.
► WUSS OUT to lose courage; to back down; to fail to do as promised → 1977 US sl.
► ZAP to fail in an examination → 1961 US sl.
► ZONK ► ZONK OUT to fail → 1960s sl.
► ZOO to fail an exam → 1970s US students’ sl.