never work out

USAGE SUMMARY

"never work out" is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
It is typically used to convey that something will not be successful or will not have a positive outcome. Example: "I'm afraid our plan to start a business together will never work out. We have very different ideas on how to run it."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Lifestyle

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

"I never work out," Ms. Kosoy said.

The New York Times

"They and he never work out," says one source.

Independent

I could never work out what the hell that was.

The New York Times - Arts

I can never work out what the story is.

The Guardian

Maybe you know it would never work out, so it's not worth screwing up your friendship.

The New York Times

7J says, "So that's what happened to Lucy; I knew it would never work out".

The New York Times - Magazine

"You're legendary for it, they all told me it would never work out between us, but I had hope.

The New York Times

"This will never work out between us," he sings as a cat named Mittens to a dog named Buster.

The New York Times

People can never work out where they know me from," she says, extracting herself out of her fake-fur coat.

The Guardian

(One person, commenting on her ability to make people feel special, said, "I can never work out when it's completely natural and when it isn't").

The New York Times - Magazine

Like any jaded millennial, the woman greets the impending setup with a sense of dread: "These things never work out!" she says on the car ride out.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "never work out" to express a strong belief that a plan, relationship, or situation will not be successful. Ensure the context clearly indicates what is failing or expected to fail.

Common error

Avoid using "never work out" in situations where a less definitive phrase would be more appropriate. Overusing it can make your writing sound melodramatic. Instead, consider alternatives like "might not succeed" or "could face challenges" for a more nuanced approach.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "never work out" functions as a predicate within a sentence, expressing a negative prediction or assessment about the success or viability of something. Ludwig indicates that this phrase is commonly used to convey that something will not be successful or have a positive outcome.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

67%

Wiki

15%

Lifestyle

5%

Less common in

Formal & Business

3%

Science

3%

Books

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "never work out" is a common idiom used to express the belief that something will not be successful or yield a positive outcome. Grammatically correct and frequently used, it functions as a predicate to convey pessimism or a lack of confidence in a future endeavor. As Ludwig AI confirms, it effectively communicates the idea that a particular result is unattainable. While its register is generally neutral, it is crucial to use it appropriately and avoid overuse in overly dramatic contexts. Alternatives like "might not succeed" or "is unlikely to succeed" can offer a more nuanced approach. The phrase appears most frequently in news and media sources, indicating its relevance in reporting and commentary on various situations.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

will not succeed

Focuses on the lack of achievement or positive outcome.

is bound to fail

Emphasizes the inevitability of failure.

is doomed to collapse

Highlights a catastrophic or complete failure.

is not going to pan out

Uses a more informal and colloquial expression.

won't come to fruition

Focuses on the inability to reach a desired state or outcome.

is a lost cause

Implies that further effort is futile.

is an exercise in futility

Emphasizes the uselessness and waste of effort.

is destined for disappointment

Highlights the inevitable negative emotional outcome.

is heading for disaster

Suggests a severe and negative outcome.

is unlikely to succeed

Focuses on the low probability of success.

FAQs

How can I use "never work out" in a sentence?

You can use "never work out" to express that something is unlikely to be successful, such as "I knew that plan would "never work out" because it lacked funding".

What's a less dramatic alternative to "never work out"?

If you want to convey doubt without being overly dramatic, try using phrases like "might not succeed", "could face challenges", or "may not be feasible" instead of saying it will "never work out".

Is it correct to say "will never work out"?

Yes, "will "never work out"" is a grammatically correct and commonly used phrase. The addition of "will" simply adds a future tense perspective.

What is the difference between "not working out" and "never working out"?

"Not working out" implies a current lack of success that could potentially change, while ""never work out"" suggests a permanent state of failure or impossibility.