one's + failing
作名词时，failing 意为“缺点、弱点”，是可数名词，常与 one's 连用。
Her main failing is her lack of confidence.
她的主要缺点是缺乏自信。
不合格的；不达标的
表现不合格的；不及格的；失败的
below acceptable in performance; not good enough
表现不合格的；不及格的
below acceptable in performance
The school was criticized for its failing math program.
这所学校因其不达标的数学课程而受到批评。
用法提示：failing 作形容词修饰 program，表示“不达标的、不合格的”。
The failing company had to lay off half its workers.
那家经营不善的公司不得不裁掉一半员工。
用法提示：failing 作形容词修饰 company，表示业绩不达标、经营不善。
Teachers pay extra attention to failing students.
老师们给予不及格的学生额外关注。
用法提示：failing 作形容词修饰 students，表示成绩不达标、不及格的。
作名词时，failing 意为“缺点、弱点”，是可数名词，常与 one's 连用。
Her main failing is her lack of confidence.
她的主要缺点是缺乏自信。
作形容词时，failing 意为“衰退的、失败的”，用于修饰 health、business 等名词。
He kept working despite his failing health.
尽管健康状况每况愈下，他仍继续工作。
作介词时，failing 意为“如果没有”，后接名词，常放在句首表示假设。
Failing a reply, we will assume you are not coming.
如果没有答复，我们就认为你不来了。
侧重结果未达成；failing 更多指正在走下坡的持续状态，如 failing business/health。
侧重数量、能力或质量不够；不能表达健康、事业逐渐变差的过程。
适用范围更广，可指力量、论据、咖啡等；failing 则不能用于这些普通搭配。
较正式，强调缺少必要成分；通常不表示正在衰败的动态。
grammar · medium
易错句子The project ended in failing because of poor planning.
正确表达The project ended in failure because of poor planning.
这里要表示‘以失败告终’，应用名词 failure；failing 作名词时指人的缺点或弱点（如 everyone has their failings），不表示‘失败、不成功’这一结果，故改用 failure。
grammar · medium
易错句子We should book a table. If failing that, we'll eat at home.
正确表达We should book a table. Failing that, we'll eat at home.
failing that 是固定条件短语，意思就是‘如果那不行的话’，已含条件含义；前面再加 if 语义重复、不符合惯用法，所以去掉 if。
grammar · medium
易错句子They are trying to save their failed marriage.
正确表达They are trying to save their failing marriage.
failed marriage 指已经破裂、结束的婚姻；failing marriage 指正在走向破裂、尚未结束。动作‘努力挽救’说明婚姻还没结束，要表示‘正在走下坡路的’用形容词 failing。
形容词义项：未达到目标、失败的；相对达到目标、成功的。
形容词义项：未达到合格标准（如考试）的；相对达到合格线的，专用于成绩、考试等场合。
failed 强调结果已经失败，failing 强调正在失败或衰退：a failed project 是已失败的项目，a failing business 是正在衰败的企业。
failure 是名词，failing 是形容词，不能说 a failure business，要说 a failing business。
failing（/ˈfeɪlɪŋ/）与 falling（/ˈfɔːlɪŋ/）拼写和读音相近：failing 表示失败、衰退，falling 表示下落、下降。
健康状况恶化
He continued to work despite his failing health.
尽管健康状况每况愈下，他仍继续工作。
视力衰退
She had to stop driving because of failing eyesight.
由于视力衰退，她不得不停止开车。
破裂的婚姻
Their failing marriage finally ended in divorce.
他们破裂的婚姻最终以离婚告终。
衰退的记忆力
His failing memory made it hard to recognize old friends.
他衰退的记忆力使他难以认出老朋友。
濒临倒闭的企业
The failing business was forced to close.
这家濒临倒闭的企业被迫关门。
常与failing搭配，如failing health，表示健康恶化。
failing marriage指濒临破裂的婚姻。
failing business指经营不善、走向失败的企业。
failing grade指不及格的成绩。
failing memory指逐渐衰退的记忆力。
如果不那样；否则
Try to get here by 8; failing that, I'll go on alone.
尽量八点前到；否则我就一个人去了。
若不如此；否则
Please submit the form by Monday, failing which your application will be considered late.
请在周一前提交表格，否则你的申请将被视为逾期。
不做计划，就是计划着失败
I always write a weekly to-do list because failing to plan is planning to fail.
我总是写每周待办清单，因为不做计划，就是计划着失败。
如果你没有失败，你就没有在尝试。
A popular motivational saying, often quoted in schools and workplaces to encourage risk-taking.
这是一句流行的励志名言，常在学校和工作场所被引用，以鼓励人们敢于冒险。
不做计划，就是计划失败。
A well-known proverb used in business and personal planning to stress that lack of preparation leads to failure.
这是一句在商业和个人规划中常用的著名谚语，强调缺乏准备会导致失败。
发长 /eɪ/ 音 (如 rain, wait)
Dictionary facts from ECDICT, WIKTIONARY, WORDNET.
不及格的分数
He received a failing grade on the exam.
他考试得了不及格的分数。