fail

fallar

reprobar

fail(feyl)

intransitive verb

1. (to not succeed)

a. fallar

The manager failed to hold the attention of his team.

El gerente falló en mantener la atención de su equipo.

b. fracasar

Their attempt to hold up the drugstore failed when the police arrived.

Su intento de atracar la farmacia fracasó cuando llegó la policía.

2. (to stop functioning)

a. fallar

The car won't start because the engine has failed.

El carro no arranca porque falló el motor.

3. (to not meet expectations)

a. fallar

My brother has failed to show up on time.

Mi hermano ha fallado en llegar a tiempo.

b. no cumplir con

The police officer failed to uphold the law.

El policía no cumplió con la ley.

transitive verb

4. (education)

a. reprobar

(Latin America)

Larry is not good at numbers; that's why he failed the math test.

A Larry no se le dan bien los números; por eso reprobó el examen de matemáticas.

b. suspender

(Spain)

Failing just one test is not the end of the world.

No se va a acabar el mundo por suspender solo un examen.

c. catear

(colloquial)

(Spain)

I can't afford to fail another course in college.

No puedo permitirme catear otro curso de universidad.

5. (to disappoint)

a. fallar

Please don't fail me again.

No me falles otra vez, por favor.

noun

6. (education)

a. el suspenso

(M)

This semester I got a fail on my history test.

Este semestre saqué un suspenso en mi examen de historia.

7.

(colloquial)

(computing)

a. el fracaso

(M)

(colloquial)

I had a laugh looking through some of the best Internet fails.

Me pasé un rato riendo mirando algunos de los mejores fracasos en internet.

fail

Noun

1. (in exam)

a. el suspenso

(M)

(Spain)

b. el reprobado

(M)

(Latin America)

without failsin falta

transitive verb

2. (exam, candidate)

a. suspender

(Spain)

b. reprobar

(Latin America)

to fail a drugs testdar positivo en un control antidoping

words fail meme faltan las palabras

his nerve failed himle fallaron los nervios

I won't fail youno te fallaré

intransitive verb

3. (person, plan, business)

a. fracasar

4. (in exam)

a. suspender

(Spain)

b. reprobar

(Latin America)

5. (health, brakes)

a. fallar

6. (memory, eyesight)

a. fallar, debilitarse

the light was failingse hacía de noche, estaba oscureciendo

to fail to do somethingno hacer algo

I fail to see what the problem isno acabo de ver cuál es el problema

if all else failsen último extremo

he failed in his dutyno cumplió con su obligación

it never failsnunca falla

it never fails to surprise me…nunca deja de sorprenderme…

Copyright © 2006 Harrap Publishers Limited

fail [feɪl]

intransitive verb

1 (not succeed) [+candidate in examination] suspender; [+plan] fracasar; no dar resultado; [+show, play] fracasar; [+business] quebrar; [+remedy] fallar; no surtir efecto; [+hopes] frustrarse; malograrse

to fail by five votes perder por cinco votos; to fail in one's duty faltar a su deber; no cumplir con su obligación

2 [+light] irse; apagarse; [+crops] perderse; [+health, sight, voice] debilitarse; [+strength] acabarse; [+engine, brakes, mechanism] fallar; averiarse; [+water supply] acabarse; [+power supply] cortarse; fallar

the light was failing iba anocheciendo

transitive verb

1 [+exam, subject] suspender; [+candidate] suspender (a)

a failed painter un pintor fracasado

2 (let down) [+person] fallar (a); [+memory, strength] fallar

don't fail me! ¡no me falles!; ¡no faltes!; his strength failed him le fallaron las fuerzas; his heart failed him se encontró sin ánimo; his courage failed him le faltó valor; words fail me! ¡no encuentro palabras!

3 (not succeed)

to fail to be elected no lograr ser elegido; to fail to win a prize no obtener un premio

4 (omit, neglect)

to fail to do sth no hacer algo; dejar de hacer algo; don't fail to visit her no deje de visitarla

5 (be unable)

I fail to see why/what etc no veo or alcanzo a ver por qué/qué etc

noun

1

without fail sin falta

2 (Univ) suspenso (m);in en