failing that

idiom

formal

: if something (already specified) does not happen or succeed

We could try to persuade them by arguing or, failing that, we could threaten to cancel the deal.

Examples of failing that in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

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But failing that, the U.S. military would need to take unilateral action to remove the more sensitive aspects of the program to prevent them from falling into dangerous hands. —

Eric S. Edelman, Foreign Affairs, 13 Apr. 2020 So deterrence and then failing that, to be able to defend Israel against an attack. —

Taylor Wilson, USA TODAY, 6 Aug. 2024 Ideally, the Biden administration would cover these new costs by increasing overall defense spending; failing that, the only way to pay for them would be to scale back in other theaters, above all Europe and the Middle East. —

Richard Haass, Foreign Affairs, 13 Dec. 2021 The best way to treat heatstroke is immersion in a cold-water bath, Giudice said, or failing that, placing wet towels directly on the body while surrounded by fans. —

Laura Paddison, CNN, 29 July 2024 See all Example Sentences for failing that