Noun Phrase
/lʌɪf ˈfeɪljər/
The term "life failure" refers to a perception or consideration that a person has not succeeded in achieving their personal goals or societal expectations during their lifetime. This can encompass various domains, including career, relationships, personal development, and overall fulfillment. In the English language, the term can evoke feelings associated with regret, disappointment, or inadequacy and is often used in contexts discussing mental health, personal growth, and societal pressures.
The phrase "life failure" is not extremely common in everyday conversation and is more likely encountered in self-help literature, discussions about mental health, or critical reflections on life choices. It may arise more frequently in written contexts than in oral speech due to its introspective and somewhat technical nature.
Many people feel that a midlife crisis is just a signal of life failure.
Многие люди считают, что кризис середины жизни — это просто знак неудачи в жизни.
He often reflected on his life failure, wishing he had taken different paths.
Он часто размышлял о своей неудаче в жизни, желая, чтобы он выбрал другой путь.
Society sometimes judges individuals harshly based on superficial signs of life failure.
Общество иногда жестоко судит людей на основе поверхностных признаков неудачи в жизни.
While "life failure" itself is not commonly used in idiomatic expressions, it relates closely to discussions about failure and success, which often appear in various idiomatic phrases. Here are several relevant idiomatic expressions that encapsulate the idea of failure or setbacks in life:
Face the music
After his failed business venture, he had to face the music and deal with the consequences. После его неудачной бизнес-инициативы ему пришлось столкнуться с реальностью и справиться с последствиями.
Hit rock bottom
She felt that she had hit rock bottom after her divorce and career setbacks. Она считала, что достигла дна после развода и неудач в карьере.
Bite the bullet
It was time for him to bite the bullet and confront his feelings of life failure. Пришло время ему собраться с духом и столкнуться со своими чувствами неудачи в жизни.
Burned out
After years of working hard without success, he felt completely burned out and considered himself a life failure. После многих лет упорной работы без успеха он чувствовал себя полностью выгоревшим и считал себя неудачником в жизни.
Down in the dumps
She was feeling down in the dumps about her perceived life failure, but slowly began to see the silver lining. Она чувствовала себя подавленной из-за своей предполагаемой неудачи в жизни, но вскоре начала видеть положительные стороны.
The word "life" comes from the Old English "līf," which relates to existence, living, and the condition of being alive. The term "failure" originates from the Latin "fallire," meaning "to deceive or to fail," which passed through Old French as "faillir" into Middle English. Together, "life failure" can be understood as a combination of the existential condition and the state of lacking success.