The movie tries to walk a tightrope between drama and comedy but fails at both.

该电影试图在故事剧和喜剧间走钢丝，但却两头都不就。

《柯林斯英汉双解大词典》

He tries to remain emotionally detached from the prisoners, but fails.

他想尽力保持对囚犯们不掺杂个人感情，却做不到。

《柯林斯英汉双解大词典》

Wang Duoyu tries many times but fails almost every time.

王多鱼尝试了很多次，但几乎每次都失败。

youdao

But if irrigation fails, the best thing to do is to go to a health careprovider for professional assistance.

VOA: special.2010.03.31

I take it that we all agree that when we attempt to run the Cartesian argument in terms of the Morning Star and the Evening Star, it fails. But it's harder to say what went wrong?

我想大家都同意,当我们试图把卡氏论证,用到晨星和昏星的例子上来时,它行不通了,但是很难说我们哪里错了

耶鲁公开课 - 死亡课程节选

That doesn't prove that the argument fails, but it does mean that you're going to have your work cut out for you if you're going to use this route to arguing for the existence of a soul.

但这并不表明这个论证就不成立,而它确实意味着,如果你要用这种途径,来证明灵魂存在的话,你需要有人帮你解答疑团

耶鲁公开课 - 死亡课程节选

The feature uses the same terminology as its desktop and mobile cousins, but fails to deliver the same functionality.

ENGADGET: Xbox 360 Dashboard update hands-on (fall 2012) Hands-on

He ticks all the right boxes, looks like a president, has the right experience, but fails to generate any enthusiasm.

BBC: Republicans holding out for a hero

Under state law, such a receiver can implement a fiscal-recovery plan when a city needs one but fails to produce it.

ECONOMIST: Harrisburg��s bankruptcy