if all else fails

if Preposition

— If is used in a condition: — # When something will cause something else — #: If it rains, I will get wet. — # When a condition is not true — #: I'd prefer it if you took your shoes off. — # although — #: He was a great friend, if a little strange. — # When ... occurs (a programming statement). — #: If A, then B, else C.

if Subordinator

— If is used to report questions and things that are unknown. She asked if they had arrived yet. I don't know if I want to go or not.

if Noun

— If is a conditional situation. There are many ifs we need to consider before we start on the plan.

all Determinative

— All of something is 100% of it, or the entire amount. Well you could stay in bed all day on Friday. And I could take the kids to school. You know, you can't see all of the moon. "There was a problem." "Yes, I know all about it." No! You did it all wrong. Can you tell me all this tomorrow? I think we all know we have to change. The shirt is almost all white. Is that all you can do? — All of some things is 100% of them, or every one. And then you can go and tell all your friends about it. We have over two hundred men, but not all of them had the problem.

all Noun

— If you give your all, you give 100% of your energy, attention, etc.

else Preposition

— You use else to show that something is not the same one as another thing. OK, he's cute, but what else has he got? I don't think this one fits me. Do you have anything else in the same colour? I've told you most of it. There's not much else I can think of.

else Adverb

— You use mathx/math or else mathy/math to say that if mathx/math doesn't happen or isn't true, mathy/math would happen or would be true. They don't want to be here or else they would have come. — You use or else to say that if something doesn't happen, it will be bad. You'd better clean your room, or else.

fail Verb

— To not achieve a goal, or to go wrong. The event is going to fail.