Cool MateFailed vs Going down the toilet
When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.
Failed
Top 1,000 (very common)B2adjective
Going down the toilet
InformalBeyond 10,000 (less common)
Most formal: FailedMost common: Failed
| Failed | Going down the toilet | |
|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | 🇬🇧 /["/feɪld/"]/🇺🇸 /["/feɪld/"]/ | 🇬🇧 //ˈɡəʊɪŋ daʊn ðə ˈtɔɪlɪt//🇺🇸 //ˈɡoʊɪŋ daʊn ðə ˈtɔɪlɪt// |
| Meaning | not successful | Toilet waste or something worthless. |
| Example | a failed writer | The project is going down the toilet due to lack of funding. |
| Register | Neutral | Informal |
| How common | Top 1,000 (very common) | Beyond 10,000 (less common) |
| CEFR level | B2 | - |
| Part of speech | adjective | |
| Collocations | failed attempt, failed experiment, failed project, failed to meet, failed grades | toilet humor, going down fast, gone down the toilet |
| Antonyms | succeeded, achieved, triumphed | - |
| Common mistakes | Confusing 'failed' with 'fail' (incorrect verb tense), Using 'failed' with the wrong object (e.g., 'failed the test' instead of 'failed in the test'), Overusing it in informal contexts where lighter terms would be more appropriate | Confusing with 'going to the bathroom', which is more polite., Using it as a literal phrase rather than figurative., Not recognizing its informal tone. |
| Usage notes | Use 'failed' to describe attempts that did not succeed. It's neutral and can be used in various contexts, from academic to casual conversations. | Used in casual conversations to indicate something is in decline or wasted. Avoid in formal contexts. |
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Frequently asked questions: Failed vs Going down the toilet
What's the difference between Failed and Going down the toilet?
Failed: not successful Going down the toilet: Toilet waste or something worthless.
Which is more formal: Failed and Going down the toilet?
Failed is the most formal of these.
Which is more common: Failed and Going down the toilet?
Failed is the most common in everyday English.
Can you show an example of each?
Failed: a failed writer Going down the toilet: The project is going down the toilet due to lack of funding.
Can I use Failed and Going down the toilet interchangeably?
Not always. Failed and Going down the toilet are related and overlap in some contexts, but they differ in register, how common they are, and usage, so swapping one for another can change the meaning or tone. Check the differences above before substituting.