fail to fetch

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "fail to fetch" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used in contexts where something is unable to be retrieved or obtained, often in technical or computing scenarios. Example: "The application will display an error message if it fails to fetch the required data from the server."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Science

Encyclopedias

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

In any case, it was a unique piece, singular even among the works of an artist for whom singularity was the rule; it could hardly fail to fetch a record price.

The New Yorker

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

55 human-written examples

Clubs lower down the Premier League have failed to fetch a competitive price at all.

Independent

It had failed to fetch offers for the entire collection, people briefed on the matter told DealBook.

The New York Times

Failing to fetch me at first keep encouraged, Missing me one place search another, I stop somewhere waiting for you.

The New Yorker

The piece, which Christie's jewelry experts said was made in the last five years, failed to fetch its high estimate of $4.6 million.

The New York Times

Failing to fetch me at first keep encouraged, Missing me one place search another, I have geotagged all of my Instagrams.

The New Yorker

Not surprisingly, some works in the annuals failed to fetch praise or even much notice from critics, and the show gamely includes a few.

The New York Times - Arts

Such guarantees played a significant part in the downfall of Phillips, which had to pay out tens of millions of dollars to sellers when numerous works failed to fetch as much as their guaranteed price.How ironic that, having criticised Phillips at the time, both Christie's and Sotheby's are now competing with ever-higher guarantees of their own, in the manner of a losing gambler doubling up.

The Economist

And, with the grass of his own book Homerically conceived, Whitman whispered to his future readers, "If you want me again look for me under your bootsoles" (at which point, if you have been reading him correctly, your own hair quietly gets up from its seat and stands on end): Failing to fetch me at first keep encouraged, Missing me one place search another, I stop some where waiting for you.

The New Yorker

"Women of all houses daily go to fetch water.

Unicef

Women fail to look their way, co-workers don't scurry to fetch them coffee and bosses stop thinking of them as someone on the rise.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

In formal reports or business communication, consider alternatives like "unable to retrieve" or "failed to obtain" for a more professional tone.

Common error

While "fail to fetch" is grammatically sound, overuse in casual conversations or informal writing can sound stilted. Opt for simpler phrasing like "couldn't get" or "didn't find" in such contexts.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "fail to fetch" functions as a verb phrase, specifically indicating the unsuccessful attempt to retrieve or obtain something. Ludwig AI confirms its usability. It often modifies a noun or pronoun by describing the action that could not be completed.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

45%

Formal & Business

25%

Science

10%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

10%

Wiki

10%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "fail to fetch" is a grammatically sound and usable expression that indicates an unsuccessful attempt to retrieve or obtain something. According to Ludwig AI, it's best suited for formal and technical contexts and frequently appears in news and business-related articles. While considered correct, overusing this phrase in informal settings might sound unnatural. Alternatives like "unable to retrieve" or "cannot obtain" offer similar meanings and may be more appropriate depending on the specific scenario. The expression carries a neutral to formal tone and primarily serves an informative purpose by conveying the lack of success in an attempt to retrieve something.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

unable to retrieve

Focuses on the inability to get something back.

cannot obtain

Emphasizes the impossibility of acquiring something.

failed to retrieve

Past tense; highlights the action of failing to get something.

could not fetch

Expresses an inability to get something.

was unable to acquire

Highlights that some action failed to generate the expected output.

did not retrieve

A simple statement that something was not retrieved.

was unsuccessful in fetching

Adds detail on the success of the action.

missed fetching

Indicates a missed opportunity to retrieve something.

proved impossible to fetch

Stresses that the attempt to fetch was not doable.

deficient in fetching

Highlights the lack of the ability to fetch something when needed.

FAQs

What does "fail to fetch" mean?

The phrase "fail to fetch" means to be unsuccessful in retrieving or obtaining something. It often appears in technical contexts related to data retrieval or in formal writing.

When is it appropriate to use "fail to fetch"?

It is most appropriate to use "fail to fetch" in formal or technical contexts where a specific retrieval process has been unsuccessful. In casual conversation, consider using simpler alternatives.

What can I say instead of "fail to fetch"?

You can use alternatives like "unable to retrieve", "cannot obtain", or "failed to retrieve" depending on the context.

Is "fail to fetch" grammatically correct?

Yes, "fail to fetch" is grammatically correct. The verb "fail" is properly conjugated, and "to fetch" is used as an infinitive indicating the action that was unsuccessful.