IDIOMS ABOUT FAILURE

TO HAVE DISASTER WRITTEN ALL OVER IT – to show clearly that something or someone is going to fail or have disastrous results

Jillian tries to focus her attention on evidence she found in these 3 weeks. The situation has disaster written all over it because everything she managed to dig up can't be considered an actual proof.

TO FALL FROM GRACE – to lose someone’s favor or respect  

Jillian fell from grace after she seriously screwed up in the last investigation.

TO BE BACK TO SQUARE ONE – to be forced to return to the beginning because the way you tried to achieve something failed

Everything she achieved was easily forgotten because of one mistake. Inspector was forced to be back to square one and start working with cold cases nobody cared about.

TO BE A DEAD DUCK – to be something or someone useless that has no chance of succeeding (1)

A FOOL'S ERRAND – a thing or task that most likely won’t be beneficial or successful (2)

Now she’s seen as a dead duck (1) by her colleagues. Everyone is sure she’ll make no progress and get no results. Trying to solve things that can’t be solved is a fool’s errand (2).

TO FIGHT A LOSING BATTLE – to try to achieve something that is likely to fail

Even though Jillian pretends not to listen to the rumors, she understands all too well that she's fighting a losing battle. There isn’t a single chance to win, but she should still do her best.

TO GO UP IN SMOKE – to end without the desired result being achieved, to be destroyed (1)

TO COME (LEAD) TO A DEAD END – to come (lead) to a situation that won’t develop or progress any further (2)

She thought she could at least find more clues that would bring her to a witness or the murder weapon. But all her hopes went up in smoke (1) and investigation now seems to come to a dead end again (2).  

TO BLOW UP IN ONE’S FACE – to get ruined unexpectedly with the result that makes one suffer

She's so tired. Everything she plans blows up in her face.

TO BE ALL DOWNHILL/ TO GO DOWNHILL – to deteriorate or become less successful

How can she keep going if her life is going downhill like a snowball? One problem always leads to another now.

TO DRAW A BLANK – to fail to remember, get a response or find something

Jillian tries to focus her attention on evidence she found but, instead, she feels like her head is empty. Jillian tries to remember when she slept or took a break last time but she draws a blank.

Test your knowledge of idioms about failure here:

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