fail to land

USAGE SUMMARY

"fail to land" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when talking about someone or something not successfully reaching a desired goal or destination. Example: Despite his strenuous efforts, he failed to land the job.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

30 human-written examples

If you fail to land correctly, a "failed" message will appear on the game screen instead, and you won't be given any bonus money.

WikiHow

When they fail to land a dream job, MBA students begin a process of self-reflection.

The Economist

Miami: "It wouldn't be a quarterback derby if the Miami Dolphins didn't get involved, then fail to land their target".

The New York Times

ONE well-known rule of politics is that early front-runners for big jobs often fail to land them.

The Economist

Meanwhile, If Newcastle fail to land Keane they will instead turn their attention to the Swindon striker Charlie Austin.

The Guardian - Sport

Should they fail to land Atlético Madrid's Fernando Torres, then serious interest is anticipated, though Rafael Benítez has other options.

The Guardian - Sport

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

30 human-written examples

He failed to land the knockout blow.

The Guardian - Opinion

(Morris tried but failed to land interviews with the Queen Mother, Fidel Castro, and Anna Nicole Smith).

The New Yorker

Dolan soured on Walsh when he failed to land LeBron James as a free agent.

The New York Times - Sports

Although she signed with a modeling agency upon her arrival, she failed to land any jobs.

Encyclopedia Britannica

But even that hook failed to land an audience, and the show closed within six months.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "fail to land", ensure the context clearly indicates what the subject is failing to obtain or achieve. For example, "The company failed to land the contract" is clearer than "The company failed to land."

Common error

Avoid using "fail to land" without specifying the object or goal. Saying "He failed to land" can be ambiguous. Specify what he failed to land, such as "He failed to land the jump".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "fail to land" functions as a verb phrase indicating the inability to achieve a desired outcome, secure an opportunity, or successfully complete an action. Ludwig confirms that this is a correct and usable English phrase.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

73%

Wiki

4%

Formal & Business

3%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

3%

Science

3%

The Guardian - Opinion

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "fail to land" is a common verb phrase used to express the lack of success in achieving a goal or securing something. Ludwig AI analysis confirms that it is grammatically correct and suitable for various contexts, mainly in News & Media. The phrase's versatility is evident through its application in diverse scenarios. For alternative expressions, consider "not succeed in landing", "be unsuccessful in obtaining", or "miss out on securing", as confirmed by Ludwig, always ensuring that the specific object or goal is clearly stated to avoid ambiguity.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

not succeed in landing

Emphasizes the lack of success in achieving the desired outcome.

be unsuccessful in obtaining

Highlights the lack of success in getting or acquiring something.

miss out on securing

Focuses on the lost opportunity to obtain something.

fall short of achieving

Indicates not reaching a particular goal or accomplishment.

prove unable to acquire

Highlights the inability to gain possession of something.

not manage to secure

Implies a lack of ability or effort in obtaining something.

be defeated in the attempt to gain

Focuses on the failure in trying to obtain something.

be unsuccessful in their bid for

Implies a failed attempt to win or achieve something.

neglect to secure

Indicates a failure due to lack of attention or effort in getting something.

lose out on securing

Highlights the negative consequence of not obtaining something.

FAQs

How can I use "fail to land" in a sentence?

Use "fail to land" to describe an unsuccessful attempt to achieve a goal or secure something. For example, "The team failed to land a spot in the finals" or "The company failed to land the client".

What's a synonym for "fail to land"?

Alternatives include "not succeed in landing", "be unsuccessful in obtaining", or "miss out on securing", depending on the context.

Is it better to say "failed to land" or "did not land"?

"Failed to land" implies an attempt was made but was unsuccessful. "Did not land" is more neutral and simply states that the action of landing did not occur. The choice depends on whether you want to emphasize the attempt and its failure.

What does it mean to "fail to land" something in a business context?

In a business context, "fail to land" typically means being unsuccessful in securing a deal, contract, client, or investment. For example, "The startup failed to land funding from investors".