failed to interrupt

USAGE SUMMARY

"failed to interrupt" is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
It is typically used to describe someone's inability to stop or halt something. For example: "Despite his best efforts, he failed to interrupt the argument between his mother and father."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

7 human-written examples

Another time even a blizzard failed to interrupt a conversation.

The New York Times

Even the Anglo-Dutch wars provoked by commercial rivalry failed to interrupt this intellectual exchange, though there were some disagreeable quarrels over priority of discovery, such as Christiaan Huygens's argument with the English scientist Robert Hooke over precision time-keepers.

The Guardian - Books

Dernbach was treated with similar disdain after Taylor was caught behind off an inside edge while aiming a flat-footed drive at Anderson, and even the departure of Grant Elliott and Brendon McCullum in quick succession failed to interrupt Guptill's progress.

BBC

He constantly tried and failed to interrupt Pence, making him seem impatient; Pence's calm baritone, by contrast, projected a cool, collected front.

Vice

Pakistan failed to interrupt polio virus transmission despite reportedly achieving the targets set in the GPEI strategic plan, including intensified mass immunization activities (national/sub-national immunization days, NIDs/SNIDs), mop-up campaigns within 4 weeks of every case, and certification standards for surveillance and laboratories.

BMC International Health and Human Rights

Thus, a given level of impact on malaria transmission can be accurately described as either highly successful control or abject failure to eliminate it: The combination of mass administration of sulfalene-pyrimethamine with residual spraying of propoxur failed to interrupt transmission for any length of time.

American Journal of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

51 human-written examples

Dissatisfaction has been brewing for a decade and a half, though a plethora of hapless opposition parties has failed to do more than briefly interrupt LDP rule (for an 11-month stint in 1993-94).

The Economist

Whenever patients failed to tolerate the test, it was interrupted immediately.

Critical Care

Ms. Pascal, meanwhile, had acquired something of a reputation as a booster of "chick flicks," like "The Messenger: The Story of Joan of Arc" and "Girl, Interrupted," which failed to ignite at the box office.

The New York Times

Will his nightmare World Cup, in which the Yorkshire left-hander failed to pass 10 in four innings, interrupt that flow?

The Guardian - Sport

The 2008 UN data also failed to reflect huge increases in displaced children and interrupted schooling.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "failed to interrupt" when you want to emphasize a lack of success in stopping an ongoing process or action. It's suitable for formal and informal writing, provided the context aligns with a sense of unsuccessful intervention.

Common error

Avoid using "failed to interrupt" when the intent was not to stop something completely, but merely to influence it. In such cases, phrases like "failed to influence" or "had little impact on" might be more appropriate.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "failed to interrupt" functions as a verb phrase indicating the lack of success in stopping or disrupting an action or process. Ludwig AI examples show it used to describe events or efforts that did not manage to halt or impede progress.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

43%

Science

43%

Wiki

14%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "failed to interrupt" is a grammatically correct and clear way to express that an attempt to stop or disrupt something was unsuccessful. Ludwig AI confirms this, citing examples from diverse sources like news articles and scientific publications. While not exceptionally common, this phrase is versatile and suitable for both formal and informal writing. Related phrases like "was unable to disrupt" and "could not halt" offer similar meanings, allowing for nuanced expression. When using "failed to interrupt", ensure the context aligns with a lack of successful intervention, distinguishing it from situations where an attempt was merely made without achieving the desired result.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

was unable to disrupt

Replaces "failed" with "was unable" and "interrupt" with "disrupt", keeping the core meaning intact.

could not halt

Uses "halt" as a synonym for "interrupt", indicating a complete stop was not achieved.

did not manage to impede

Employs "manage to impede" to convey the lack of success in hindering progress.

proved incapable of stopping

Replaces "failed" with "proved incapable" and "interrupt" with "stopping", emphasizing the inability.

didn't succeed in breaking up

Uses "breaking up" to mean disrupting or stopping something, offering a more informal alternative.

was unsuccessful in suspending

Similar to "could not halt", but suggests a temporary cessation that couldn't be achieved.

fell short of disrupting

Indicates the attempt to disrupt did not reach its intended goal.

was ineffective at intervening in

Highlights the lack of impact in attempting to change the course of events.

met with no success in curtailing

Emphasizes the lack of positive outcome in trying to limit or reduce something.

didn't achieve a break in

Suggests an attempt to create a pause or interruption that did not materialize.

FAQs

How can I use "failed to interrupt" in a sentence?

You can use "failed to interrupt" to describe an unsuccessful attempt to stop an action or process. For example: "The negotiator "failed to interrupt" the escalating conflict."

What are some alternatives to "failed to interrupt"?

Some alternatives include phrases like "was unable to disrupt", "could not halt", or "did not manage to impede", depending on the specific nuance you wish to convey.

Is "failed at interrupting" grammatically correct as an alternative to "failed to interrupt"?

While "failed at interrupting" isn't incorrect, ""failed to interrupt"" is generally preferred because it directly expresses the lack of success in stopping something. "Failed at interrupting" can sound slightly awkward in comparison.

What's the difference between "failed to interrupt" and "attempted to interrupt"?

"Failed to interrupt" indicates the attempt to stop something was unsuccessful. "Attempted to interrupt" only indicates that an attempt was made, without specifying the outcome. For example: "He attempted to interrupt the meeting, but "failed to interrupt" the speaker."