Cool MateFailure vs Something tripped my fly-by-wire
When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.
Failure
Top 1,000 (very common)B2noun
Something tripped my fly-by-wire
Beyond 10,000 (less common)
Most common: Failure
| Failure | Something tripped my fly-by-wire | |
|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | 🇬🇧 /["/ˈfeɪljə(r)/"]/🇺🇸 /["/ˈfeɪljər/"]/ | 🇬🇧 //ˌsʌmθɪŋ trɪpt maɪ flaɪ baɪ waɪə//🇺🇸 //ˌsʌmθɪŋ trɪpt maɪ flaɪ baɪ waɪr// |
| Meaning | not succeeding in something | A situation caused a problem with my control system. |
| Example | His failure to meet the deadline cost the company a valuable contract. | Something tripped my fly-by-wire system during takeoff. |
| Register | Neutral | Neutral |
| How common | Top 1,000 (very common) | Beyond 10,000 (less common) |
| CEFR level | B2 | - |
| Part of speech | noun | |
| Collocations | complete, total, abject, be doomed to, end in, result in, rate, fear of failure, a history of failure, a possibility of failure, big, great, serious, be, represent, prove, arise from something, failure of, fundamental, general, manifest, excuse, justify, constitute, mechanical, structural, technical, cause, lead to, result in, occur, failure in, mechanical, structural, technical, cause, lead to, result in, occur, failure in, mechanical, structural, technical, cause, lead to, result in, occur, failure in | trip a system, fly-by-wire technology, fail-safe controls |
| Antonyms | success, achievement, victory | - |
| Common mistakes | Using 'failure' as a verb instead of a noun., Confusing 'failure' with 'fault,' thinking they mean the same., Not using appropriate prepositions, such as saying 'failure of' instead of 'failure to.' | Misunderstanding 'fly-by-wire' as a literal concept rather than a technical term., Confusing with other aviation terms like 'manual control'., Using in non-technical discussions where it's irrelevant. |
| Usage notes | Use 'failure' to describe a lack of success in a specific endeavor. Avoid in very formal documents unless necessary. In casual conversations, 'failure' can sound heavy; people may prefer 'not succeeding.' | Used in technical contexts, particularly in aviation or engineering. Not appropriate in casual conversation. |
See it in real clips
Frequently asked questions: Failure vs Something tripped my fly-by-wire
What's the difference between Failure and Something tripped my fly-by-wire?
Failure: not succeeding in something Something tripped my fly-by-wire: A situation caused a problem with my control system.
Which is more common: Failure and Something tripped my fly-by-wire?
Failure is the most common in everyday English.
Can you show an example of each?
Failure: His failure to meet the deadline cost the company a valuable contract. Something tripped my fly-by-wire: Something tripped my fly-by-wire system during takeoff.
Can I use Failure and Something tripped my fly-by-wire interchangeably?
Not always. Failure and Something tripped my fly-by-wire 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.