failing that
idiom
formal
: if something (already specified) does not happen or succeed
We could try to persuade them by arguing or, failing that, we could threaten to cancel the deal.
Examples of failing that in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
For decades, you would have been laughed out of business school for failing that one.
—
Alan Murray, Fortune, 26 Jan. 2024
Most reality programs today need an arc—or, failing that, a gimmick.
—WIRED, 29 Oct. 2023
But, failing that, if neither of the two surface at or near the top of the Big 12 anytime soon, which is a good bet, Colorado-BYU will be just another game, nobody especially highlighting who sits atop the mountains between them.
—Gordon Monson, The Salt Lake Tribune, 31 July 2023
Another was that, in order to trigger the desegregation process, parties had either to petition their local school boards or, failing that, to bring suit in federal court.
—Louis Menand, The New Yorker, 31 July 2023
On a big cable car network, Ho said rescuers could try to gain access to a gondola along the cables and lower people via ropes, or failing that, send a helicopter.
—Salman Masood, BostonGlobe.com, 22 Aug. 2023
If Taiwan or the United States ignores Chinese redlines, Beijing will quickly move to conduct hostilities in order to compel a return to the status quo or, failing that, to compel unification between Taiwan and the mainland by force.
—John Culver; John Pomfret and Matt Pottinger, Foreign Affairs, 6 June 2023
For years, failing that test usually meant getting kicked out on Day 1.
—Ernesto Londoño, New York Times, 30 Apr. 2023
As ever the best bet is to go play on the new map to figure it all out, but failing that take a look at the official patch notes.
—Mike Stubbs, Forbes, 21 Apr. 2023
Alan Murray, Fortune, 26 Jan. 2024
Most reality programs today need an arc—or, failing that, a gimmick.
—WIRED, 29 Oct. 2023
But, failing that, if neither of the two surface at or near the top of the Big 12 anytime soon, which is a good bet, Colorado-BYU will be just another game, nobody especially highlighting who sits atop the mountains between them.
—Gordon Monson, The Salt Lake Tribune, 31 July 2023
Another was that, in order to trigger the desegregation process, parties had either to petition their local school boards or, failing that, to bring suit in federal court.
—Louis Menand, The New Yorker, 31 July 2023
On a big cable car network, Ho said rescuers could try to gain access to a gondola along the cables and lower people via ropes, or failing that, send a helicopter.
—Salman Masood, BostonGlobe.com, 22 Aug. 2023
If Taiwan or the United States ignores Chinese redlines, Beijing will quickly move to conduct hostilities in order to compel a return to the status quo or, failing that, to compel unification between Taiwan and the mainland by force.
—John Culver; John Pomfret and Matt Pottinger, Foreign Affairs, 6 June 2023
For years, failing that test usually meant getting kicked out on Day 1.
—Ernesto Londoño, New York Times, 30 Apr. 2023
As ever the best bet is to go play on the new map to figure it all out, but failing that take a look at the official patch notes.
—Mike Stubbs, Forbes, 21 Apr. 2023
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'failing that.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near failing that
Cite this Entry
“Failing that.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/failing%20that. Accessed 28 Apr. 2024.
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