ENGLISH
REFERENCE

god that failed

idiom
Meaning

A notable let-down or flop; a concept, product, or person that has failed to live up to very high expectations.


Origin

first recorded 20th c.

Popularised by The God that Failed (1949), a volume of essays by ex-communists critiquing communism.

Examples
SIMPLE

That new phone is a god that failed.

CONTEXTUAL

The ambitious software project was supposed to change the industry, but it became a god that failed after the launch crashed.

COMPLEX

The political movement, once hailed as a savior of the working class, eventually revealed itself as a god that failed, leaving its followers disillusioned and bitter.

Anchors to
Related idioms8entries
  1. 01

    bow down before the porcelain god

    Synonym of worship the porcelain god (“to vomit into a toilet bowl”).

  2. 02

    call someone everything but a child of God

    To call someone many abusive names.

  3. 03

    God forbid

    indicating that the occurrence of something is very undesirable

  4. 04

    God forfend

    Don't let it be.

  5. 05

    God is in the detail

    Expresses the idea that whatever one does should be done thoroughly; i.e. details are important.

  6. 06

    good God

    Expression of surprise, outrage, or horror.

  7. 07

    hand to God

    Used when admitting something which might not be believed.

  8. 08

    have more money than God

    To be extremely or excessively rich

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