Cool MateFailure vs That ain't working
When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.
Failure
Top 1,000 (very common)B2noun
That ain't working
InformalTop 5,000 (fairly common)
Most formal: FailureMost common: Failure
| Failure | That ain't working | |
|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | 🇬🇧 /["/ˈfeɪljə(r)/"]/🇺🇸 /["/ˈfeɪljər/"]/ | 🇬🇧 //ðæt eɪnt ˈwɜːkɪŋ//🇺🇸 //ðæt eɪnt ˈwɜrkɪŋ// |
| Meaning | not succeeding in something | That is not functioning or effective. |
| Example | His failure to meet the deadline cost the company a valuable contract. | I tried fixing it, but that ain't working at all. |
| Register | Neutral | Informal |
| How common | Top 1,000 (very common) | Top 5,000 (fairly 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 | that ain't right, that ain't fair, that ain't easy |
| 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.' | Using 'ain't' in formal writing., Confusing 'that' with 'this' when referring to immediate issues., Using the phrase without context; needs explanation. |
| 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.' | This phrase is used in casual speech to indicate something isn't effective. Avoid in formal contexts. |
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Frequently asked questions: Failure vs That ain't working
What's the difference between Failure and That ain't working?
Failure: not succeeding in something That ain't working: That is not functioning or effective.
Which is more formal: Failure and That ain't working?
Failure is the most formal of these.
Which is more common: Failure and That ain't working?
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. That ain't working: I tried fixing it, but that ain't working at all.
Can I use Failure and That ain't working interchangeably?
Not always. Failure and That ain't working 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.