ATC phraseology resulted in clearance confusion.

Attributes
ACN	114504
Time
Date	198906
Day	Thu
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : fdu
State Reference	OH
Altitude	msl bound lower : 10000 msl bound upper : 24000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zob tower : pvd
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Medium Large Transport, Low Wing, 2 Turbojet Eng
Navigation In Use	Other
Flight Phase	descent other
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : flight engineer pilot : instrument pilot : commercial pilot : cfi pilot : atp
Experience	flight time total : 17500
ASRS Report	114504
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : atp
Events
Anomaly	altitude deviation : undershoot other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	controller : issued new clearance
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	ATC Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	other

Narrative:

Dryer VOR was off the air on a flight from ord to cle. Center gave us 'cross findlay 60 DME on 073 degree radial at 10,000'' and we were at 240. This only gave us 28 mi to lose 14,000'. Gave it our best shot but soon had to ask for relief on crossing altitude. Center only would say do the best you can. What does this mean? Do your best but if you don't make it, it's ok? Or what? Anyway we didn't make it. Nothing was said but this is not a good way to do things.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: ATC PHRASEOLOGY RESULTED IN CLRNC CONFUSION.

Narrative: DRYER VOR WAS OFF THE AIR ON A FLT FROM ORD TO CLE. CENTER GAVE US 'CROSS FINDLAY 60 DME ON 073 DEG RADIAL AT 10,000'' AND WE WERE AT 240. THIS ONLY GAVE US 28 MI TO LOSE 14,000'. GAVE IT OUR BEST SHOT BUT SOON HAD TO ASK FOR RELIEF ON XING ALT. CENTER ONLY WOULD SAY DO THE BEST YOU CAN. WHAT DOES THIS MEAN? DO YOUR BEST BUT IF YOU DON'T MAKE IT, IT'S OK? OR WHAT? ANYWAY WE DIDN'T MAKE IT. NOTHING WAS SAID BUT THIS IS NOT A GOOD WAY TO DO THINGS.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of August 2007 and automatically converted to unabbreviated mixed upper/lowercase text. This report is for informational purposes with no guarantee of accuracy. See NASA's ASRS site for official report.