complete failure
فشل ذريع
Use it to describe a situation where absolutely nothing went right and the result was zero.
15秒でわかる
- Describes a situation that was 100% unsuccessful and went totally wrong.
- Used for both serious business disasters and funny personal mistakes.
- A strong, decisive collocation that emphasizes a total lack of success.
意味
This phrase describes something that went wrong in every possible way. It is not just a small mistake, but a total disaster where nothing worked out as planned.
主な例文
3 / 6Discussing a failed recipe
My attempt to make homemade pasta was a complete failure; it turned into a sticky gray mush.
My attempt to make homemade pasta was a complete failure; it turned into a sticky gray mush.
Professional project review
The launch was a complete failure because the website crashed within seconds.
The launch was a complete failure because the website crashed within seconds.
Texting a friend about a date
The date was a complete failure—we had nothing to talk about and he forgot his wallet.
The date was a complete failure—we had nothing to talk about and he forgot his wallet.
文化的背景
The phrase reflects a Western cultural tendency toward binary outcomes—success or failure. While modern 'growth mindset' trends encourage seeing failure as a lesson, using 'complete' emphasizes the objective lack of desired results. It is frequently used in news headlines to criticize government policies or expensive movie flops.
The 'Total' Alternative
You can swap `complete` with `total` or `utter` to sound even more dramatic. `Utter failure` sounds slightly more literary and intense.
Don't be too mean!
Calling a person a `complete failure` is a very strong insult. It's better to use it for 'actions' or 'events' rather than people's lives.
15秒でわかる
- Describes a situation that was 100% unsuccessful and went totally wrong.
- Used for both serious business disasters and funny personal mistakes.
- A strong, decisive collocation that emphasizes a total lack of success.
What It Means
Complete failure is a strong way to say something was 100% unsuccessful. Think of it as the opposite of a 'total success.' If you bake a cake and it burns, collapses, and tastes like salt, that is a complete failure. It highlights that there were no redeeming qualities in the outcome. It is heavy, final, and very clear.
How To Use It
You use this phrase as a noun. You can say something 'was' a complete failure or 'ended in' a complete failure. It works for big things like business projects or small things like a bad first date. It sounds very decisive. When you use it, you are leaving no room for doubt. You are saying, 'This could not have been worse.'
When To Use It
Use it when you want to be honest about a disaster. In a meeting, you might use it to describe a marketing campaign that sold zero products. With friends, you might use it to describe your attempt to fix a leaky sink that ended with a flooded kitchen. It is great for storytelling because it adds drama. It helps people understand the scale of the mess.
When NOT To Use It
Avoid this phrase if you want to be polite or 'soften the blow.' If your friend cooks a meal that is just 'okay,' calling it a complete failure might hurt their feelings. It is too harsh for minor hiccups. Also, do not use it if there was even a tiny bit of success. If the cake tasted good but looked ugly, it was not a complete failure—it was just a 'partial success.'
Cultural Background
In English-speaking cultures, there is a mix of fear and respect for failure. In places like Silicon Valley, people often say 'fail fast.' However, calling something a complete failure is still a very bold statement. It carries a sense of 'back to the drawing board.' It is a common trope in movie reviews and political commentary to describe high-budget disasters.
Common Variations
You will often hear synonyms like total failure or utter failure. If you want to sound more casual or colorful, you might say it was a train wreck or a disaster. If you want to sound more formal, you might use the term fiasco. But complete failure remains the most direct and common way to state the facts.
使い方のコツ
The phrase is a 'strong collocation,' meaning these two words are naturally glued together in English. It is grammatically a noun phrase, often following the verb 'to be' or 'to end in.'
The 'Total' Alternative
You can swap `complete` with `total` or `utter` to sound even more dramatic. `Utter failure` sounds slightly more literary and intense.
Don't be too mean!
Calling a person a `complete failure` is a very strong insult. It's better to use it for 'actions' or 'events' rather than people's lives.
Sarcastic Failure
English speakers often use this sarcastically. If someone misses a tiny goal in a video game, a friend might jokingly yell, 'Complete failure!' to be funny.
例文
6My attempt to make homemade pasta was a complete failure; it turned into a sticky gray mush.
My attempt to make homemade pasta was a complete failure; it turned into a sticky gray mush.
Used here to describe a personal, low-stakes disaster with humor.
The launch was a complete failure because the website crashed within seconds.
The launch was a complete failure because the website crashed within seconds.
A direct way to state a professional setback in a meeting.
The date was a complete failure—we had nothing to talk about and he forgot his wallet.
The date was a complete failure—we had nothing to talk about and he forgot his wallet.
Informal use to vent about a disappointing social experience.
He felt like a complete failure after losing his third job in a year.
He felt like a complete failure after losing his third job in a year.
Describes a person's internal state or identity rather than just an event.
Critics called the new sequel a complete failure of imagination.
Critics called the new sequel a complete failure of imagination.
Used to describe a lack of quality in a creative work.
The team's defensive strategy was a complete failure tonight.
The team's defensive strategy was a complete failure tonight.
Commonly used in sports commentary to analyze a loss.
自分をテスト
Choose the best word to complete the sentence describing a total disaster.
The surprise party was a ___ failure because the birthday girl found out a week ago.
`Complete failure` is the standard collocation used to describe something that went totally wrong.
Identify the correct preposition to use with the phrase.
The negotiations ended ___ complete failure.
We say something 'ended in' a failure or 'was' a failure.
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ビジュアル学習ツール
Formality of 'Complete Failure'
Used with friends for funny disasters.
My haircut was a complete failure.
Standard use in daily conversation.
The plan was a complete failure.
Used in reports or news.
The policy was a complete failure.
When to say 'Complete Failure'
Kitchen Disasters
Burning the Thanksgiving turkey.
Tech Issues
A new app that doesn't open.
Social Blunders
Forgetting the name of your boss.
Business
A product that sells zero units.
よくある質問
10 問It means something was 100% unsuccessful. There were no good parts to the outcome, like a complete failure of a mission.
It can be harsh. Use it for situations or objects, but be careful using it to describe a person's efforts unless you are being very honest or funny.
Yes, it is common in professional settings to describe a project that didn't meet any of its goals. For example, 'The marketing strategy was a complete failure.'
There is almost no difference. They are interchangeable, though complete failure is slightly more common in written English.
No, that is a grammar mistake. Use the adjective complete with the noun failure. You could say something 'failed completely' using the adverb.
It is neutral. You can use it with your boss or with your best friend; it fits almost everywhere.
You could say it 'didn't go as planned' or it was 'less than successful' to be more diplomatic.
Yes, but it's very heavy. Saying 'I feel like a complete failure' expresses deep sadness or disappointment in oneself.
Yes, people often use epic fail or call something a dumpster fire in very casual slang.
Usually, yes. However, in science, a complete failure of an experiment is still a result that provides data!
関連フレーズ
Total disaster
A situation that is completely messy and unsuccessful.
Utter failure
A more formal and intense way to say complete failure.
Epic fail
Internet slang for a funny or embarrassing mistake.
Back to square one
Starting over because the previous attempt failed completely.
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