Flubbed
/flʌbd/
verbB2past tense
Definition
To flub something means to do it in a wrong or clumsy way, often by accident. It usually refers to mistakes made when performing tasks, speaking, or playing sports or games. The word suggests a small failure that can cause embarrassment or problems.
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See It in Action
To make a mistake in doing something
- •He flubbed his speech and forgot some words.
- •She flubbed the catch during the baseball game.
- •The actor flubbed his lines on stage and laughed.
To perform poorly or clumsily
- •They flubbed the final move in the dance routine.
- •I flubbed the math problem on the test and lost points.
Make It Stick
- ✓Think of "flubbed" like "made a mistake," but with a feeling of clumsiness or awkwardness—like you dropped a ball or said the wrong word
- ✓Picture someone trying to catch a ball but missing it badly, or a student forgetting their lines on stage
- ✓It's the feeling when you know you messed up in front of others and feel a little embarrassed
- ✓Sounds like "flubbed" → imagine a soft "flub" sound when something falls or slips, like a small splash or a plop
- ✓Remember a funny movie scene where a character tries to do something important but fails in a silly way
- ✓NOT like "failed" (which can be very serious), "flubbed" is often a smaller, less serious mistake
- ✓NOT like "forgot" (which means to not remember), "flubbed" means to do something wrong even if you remember what to do
Try Other Words
- •Mistake: an error or wrong action (Use when the error is general and not necessarily clumsy)
- •Botched: done badly or carelessly (Use when the failure is more serious or careless)
- •Bungled: handled badly with poor skill (Use when emphasizing clumsiness or lack of skill)
- •Messed up: made a mistake or caused confusion (Use in informal situations for general errors)
Unboxing
- •Word parts: "flub" (root) + "-ed" (past tense suffix)
- •Etymology: Originated in American English in the early 1900s as slang meaning to make a mistake or fail
- •Historical development: Started as informal speech, often used in sports or casual conversations about errors
- •Modern usage: Commonly used to describe small, often funny or embarrassing mistakes in many areas like speaking, sports, or work
Reflect & Connect
•Can a flubbed moment ever lead to something positive or funny? How do people usually react to flubs?
•How do you feel when you flub something important, and what can you do to recover from it?
Fill in the blanks
1.He flubbed his lines during the play because he ___ the words he needed to say.
2.When you flubbed the catch, it showed that your hands were not ___ enough.
3.Unlike a serious failure, flubbed usually means a ___ or small mistake.
4.She flubbed ___ the answer on the test by writing the wrong number.
5.They flubbed the performance but laughed it off, showing they ___ the embarrassment.
6.Flubbed often pairs with actions like "speech," "catch," or "lines" because these things need ___.
7.If someone flubbed an important moment, we can often infer they felt ___ or nervous.