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es gelang ihm nicht

he failed to; he was not able to

→ es
phrase Rare #39,610
he failed to; he was not able to Used when someone tried to do something but did not succeed. The subject/pronoun can vary (e.g. ihm, mir, ihnen).
GE: Tom wollte das Feuer löschen, aber es gelang ihm nicht.
EN: Tom wanted to put out the fire, but he failed to.

Es gelang ihm nicht dank eigener Anstrengung, sondern weil er Schwein hatte.

He succeeded not through his own efforts, but because he was lucky.

Es gelang ihm nicht, Arbeit zu finden.

He was unable to find work.

Er versuchte es, doch es gelang ihm nicht.

He tried, but he didn't succeed.

Tom wollte das Feuer löschen, aber es gelang ihm nicht.

Tom tried to put out the fire, but he couldn't.

Es gelang ihm nicht, unseren Erwartungen gerecht zu werden.

He failed to live up to our expectations.