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Flag vs Fail - What's the difference?

flag | fail | Synonyms |

In intransitive terms the difference between flag and fail

is that flag is to weaken, become feeble while fail is to receive one or more non-passing grades in academic pursuits.

As nouns the difference between flag and fail

is that flag is a piece of cloth, often decorated with an emblem, used as a visual signal or symbol while fail is poor quality; substandard workmanship.

As verbs the difference between flag and fail

is that flag is to furnish or deck out with flags while fail is to be unsuccessful.

As an adjective fail is

that is a failure.

flag

English

(commons)

Etymology 1

From (etyl) flag, . More at (l), (l).

Noun

(en noun)
  • A piece of cloth, often decorated with an emblem, used as a visual signal or symbol.
  • An exact representation of a flag (for example: a digital one used in websites).
  • (nautical) A flag flown by a ship to show the presence on board of the admiral; the admiral himself, or his flagship.
  • (nautical, often used attributively) A signal flag.
  • The use of a flag, especially to indicate the start of a race or other event.
  • (computer science) A variable or memory location that stores a true-or-false, yes-or-no value, typically either recording the fact that a certain event has occurred or requesting that a certain optional action take place.
  • (computer science) In a command line interface, a command parameter requesting optional behavior or otherwise modifying the action of the command being invoked.
  • (British) An abbreviation for capture the flag.
    • Synonyms
    * Boolean * switch
    Derived terms
    * antiflag * false flag * flagkini * freak flag * raise a flag * show the flag * white flag

    Verb

    (flagg)
  • To furnish or deck out with flags.
  • To mark with a flag, especially to indicate the importance of something.
  • * {{quote-news
    • , year=2011 , date=January 8 , author=Chris Bevan , title=Arsenal 1 - 1 Leeds , work=BBC citation , page= , passage=Walcott was, briefly, awarded a penalty when he was upended in the box but referee Phil Dowd reversed his decision because Bendtner had been flagged offside. }}
  • To signal to, especially to stop a passing vehicle etc.
    • Please flag down a taxi for me.
  • To convey (a message) by means of flag signals.
    • to flag an order to troops or vessels at a distance
  • To note, mark or point out for attention.
    • I've flagged up the need for further investigation into this.
    Users of the Internet forum can flag others' posts as inappropriate.
  • (computing) To signal (an event).
    • The compiler flagged three errors.
  • (computing) To set a program variable to true .
    • Flag the debug option before running the program.

    See also

    * banner * colour * ensign * jack * pennant * standard * vexillology

    Etymology 2

    Probably from (etyl).

    Verb

    (flagg)
  • To weaken, become feeble.
    • His strength flagged toward the end of the race.
  • * Jonathan Swift
    • The pleasures of the town begin to flag .
  • * {{quote-news
    • , year=2012 , date=December 29 , author=Paul Doyle , title=Arsenal's Theo Walcott hits hat-trick in thrilling victory over Newcastle , work=The Guardian citation , page= , passage=The sides took it in turns to err and excite before Newcastle flagged and Arsenal signalled their top-four credentials by blowing the visitors away. }}
  • To hang loose without stiffness; to bend down, as flexible bodies; to be loose, yielding, limp.
  • * T. Moore
    • as loose it [the sail] flagged around the mast
  • To let droop; to suffer to fall, or let fall, into feebleness.
    • to flag the wings
    (Prior)
  • To enervate; to exhaust the vigour or elasticity of.
  • * Echard
    • Nothing so flags the spirits.

    Etymology 3

    Of uncertain origin; compare Danish .

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • Any of various plants with sword-shaped leaves, especially irises; specifically, Iris pseudacorus .
  • * before 1899 , Robert Seymour Bridges, There is a Hill :
    • And laden barges float
    By banks of myosote;
    And scented flag and golden flower-de-lys
    Delay the loitering boat.
    Derived terms
    * sweet flag

    Etymology 4

    Probably of Scandinavian origin; compare Icelandic flag

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • A slice of turf; a sod.
  • A slab of stone; a flagstone, a flat piece of stone used for paving.
  • (geology) Any hard, evenly stratified sandstone, which splits into layers suitable for flagstones.

    • Verb

    (flagg)
  • To lay down flagstones.
  • * Fred is planning to flag his patio this weekend.

    • Etymology 5

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • A group of feathers on the lower part of the legs of certain hawks, owls, etc.
  • A group of elongated wing feathers in certain hawks.
  • The bushy tail of a dog such as a setter.
  • (music) A hook attached to the stem of a written note that assigns its rhythmic value

    • References

    1000 English basic words ----

    fail

    English

    Verb

    (en verb)
  • (label) To be unsuccessful.
  • * {{quote-magazine, date=2013-08-10, volume=408, issue=8848, magazine=(The Economist)
    • , title= A new prescription , passage=As the world’s drug habit shows, governments are failing in their quest to monitor every London window-box and Andean hillside for banned plants. But even that Sisyphean task looks easy next to the fight against synthetic drugs. No sooner has a drug been blacklisted than chemists adjust their recipe and start churning out a subtly different one.}}
  • (label) Not to achieve a particular stated goal. (Usage note: The direct object of this word is usually an infinitive.)
  • (label) To neglect.
  • To cease to operate correctly.
  • (label) To be wanting to, to be insufficient for, to disappoint, to desert.
  • * Bible, 1 Kings ii. 4
    • There shall not fail thee a man on the throne.
  • * 1843 , (Thomas Carlyle), '', book 3, ch. II, ''Gospel of Mammonism
    • A poor Irish Widow […] went forth with her three children, bare of all resource, to solicit help from the Charitable Establishments of that City. At this Charitable Establishment and then at that she was refused; referred from one to the other, helped by none; — till she had exhausted them all; till her strength and heart failed her: she sank down in typhus-fever […]
  • *
    • , title=The Mirror and the Lamp , chapter=2 citation , passage=That the young Mr. Churchills liked—but they did not like him coming round of an evening and drinking weak whisky-and-water while he held forth on railway debentures and corporation loans. Mr. Barrett, however, by fawning and flattery, seemed to be able to make not only Mrs. Churchill but everyone else do what he desired. And if the arts of humbleness failed him, he overcame you by sheer impudence.}}
  • (label) To receive one or more non-passing grades in academic pursuits.
  • (label) To give a student a non-passing grade in an academic endeavour.
  • To miss attaining; to lose.
  • * Milton
    • though that seat of earthly bliss be failed
  • To be wanting; to fall short; to be or become deficient in any measure or degree up to total absence.
    • The crops failed last year.
  • * Bible, Job xiv. 11
    • as the waters fail from the sea
  • * Shakespeare
    • Till Lionel's issue fails , his should not reign.
  • (archaic) To be affected with want; to come short; to lack; to be deficient or unprovided; used with of .
  • * Berke
    • If ever they fail of beauty, this failure is not be attributed to their size.
  • (archaic) To fall away; to become diminished; to decline; to decay; to sink.
  • * Milton
    • When earnestly they seek / Such proof, conclude they then begin to fail .
  • (archaic) To deteriorate in respect to vigour, activity, resources, etc.; to become weaker.
    • A sick man fails .
  • (obsolete) To perish; to die; used of a person.
  • * Shakespeare
    • had the king in his last sickness failed
  • (obsolete) To err in judgment; to be mistaken.
  • * Milton
    • Which ofttimes may succeed, so as perhaps / Shall grieve him, if I fail not.
  • To become unable to meet one's engagements; especially, to be unable to pay one's debts or discharge one's business obligation; to become bankrupt or insolvent.

    • Usage notes

    * This is a catenative verb which takes the to infinitive . See

    Synonyms

    * (to be unsuccessful) fall on one's face

    Antonyms

    * (to be unsuccessful) succeed

    Derived terms

    * failure * fail-safe

    Noun

  • (uncountable) (label) Poor quality; substandard workmanship.
    • The project was full of fail .
  • (label) A failure (condition of being unsuccessful)
  • A failure (something incapable of success)
  • A failure, especially of a financial transaction (a termination of an action).
  • A failing grade in an academic examination.

    • Adjective

    (en adjective)
  • That is a failure.

    • References

    * * *

    Anagrams

    * English control verbs English ergative verbs 1000 English basic words ----