Foirer

Foirer is a French verb that generally translates to "to fail," "to botch," or "to mess up." It is often used informally to describe a situation that goes wrong or a plan that does not succeed. The term can be applied to a wide range of contexts, from a personal mistake to a larger-scale project's downfall. For example, one might say "J'ai foiré mon examen," meaning "I messed up my exam." Similarly, a business venture that is unsuccessful could be described as having "foiré."

The word's etymology is somewhat debated, but it is thought to have originated from the Latin word "foris," meaning "outside." This might suggest an idea of going off course or being outside of the intended outcome. In contemporary French, "foirer" carries a colloquial and often slightly exasperated tone. It implies a significant error or a complete lack of success.

Synonyms for "foirer" include "échouer" (to fail), "rater" (to miss, to fail), and "gâcher" (to spoil, to ruin). However, "foirer" often carries a more informal and sometimes more dramatic connotation than these alternatives, suggesting a more definitive and often embarrassing failure. It is a common term in everyday spoken French.