go wrong
Học thuậtThân thiện
Definition
Verb: 1. To be unsuccessful; to not achieve a desired or intended outcome. This is the core meaning, describing a situation, plan, or action that does not work as expected or ends in failure. 2. To malfunction; to stop working correctly. This meaning applies to machines, devices, or systems that break down or operate incorrectly.
Examples of Usage
- Verb (be unsuccessful):
- Their plan to start a business went wrong when they couldn't secure funding.
- Everything went wrong on the day of the important presentation.
- Verb (malfunction):
- Something went wrong with the engine, and the car stopped suddenly.
- If the experiment goes wrong, we will need to start over from the beginning.
Advanced Usage
- "to go horribly/terribly wrong": This intensifier emphasizes a complete and often disastrous failure.
- The peaceful protest went horribly wrong when fighting broke out.
- "to go wrong with (something)": This structure specifies the thing that is failing or malfunctioning.
- We need to figure out what went wrong with the communication system.
Variants and Related Words
- Go awry (verb phrase): This is a more formal synonym meaning to go wrong or off course.
- The project went awry due to poor management.
- Go amiss (verb phrase): Similar to "go wrong," often used in negative constructions or questions.
- Has anything gone amiss?
Synonyms
- Fail: To not succeed.
- Miscarry: (Of a plan) to fail to achieve the intended result.
- Flop: To fail completely, especially in a public or noticeable way.
Related Phrasal Verbs
- Go bad: Typically used for food that has spoiled or decayed.
- The milk went bad because it was left out.*
- Go sour: Can describe plans or relationships that turn bad or become unpleasant.
- Their business partnership went sour after a financial dispute.
Related Idioms
- To take a wrong turn: Literally to go the wrong way while traveling; figuratively, to make a bad decision that leads to problems.
- His career took a wrong turn when he joined the controversial company.
- To be on the wrong track: To be following a plan or line of thinking that is incorrect and will not lead to success.
- If you think money will solve everything, you're on the wrong track.
Verb
- be unsuccessful
- Where do today's public schools fail?
- The attempt to rescue the hostages failed miserably