In "Deep-sea Ice Crystals Stymie Gulf Oil Leak Fix," Sarah Larmier and Harry R. Weber of the Associated Press quote BP COO Doug Suttles as saying that he "wouldn't say [the attempt to cap the leaking oil well]'s failed yet," only that "what we [BP] attempted to do last night didn't work."
The Oxford English Dictionary Online gives as one definition of the verb "to fail" the follwing: "4.a. To prove deficient upon trial." Which means "doesn't work when it gets attempted."
So, Mr. Suttles, you wouldn't say it failed, only that it failed?
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