flub
Americanverb (used with or without object)
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to perform poorly; blunder; bungle.
He flubbed the last shot and lost the match.
noun
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a blunder.
noun
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an embarrassing mistake or blunder
verb
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(intr) to blunder or make an embarrassing mistake
Other Word Forms
- flubber noun
Etymology
Origin of flub
An Americanism dating back to 1920–25; origin uncertain
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
The “Cold Mountain” gaffe was a rare instance of a “Good Hang” research flub, one that inadvertently managed to illuminate more of Paltrow’s self-perception.
From Salon • Jan. 16, 2026
It was the sort of public flub that might have derailed any other startup, but it was quickly forgotten as Musk moved on to his next viral moment.
From The Wall Street Journal • Jan. 4, 2026
It wouldn’t be a 2024 campaign event without a verbal flub, and Trump delivered, calling the crowd “hard-working patri-isch-tic” before giving up on the sentence and moving on.
From Salon • May 24, 2024
“I’m glad you’re here,” the Grammy-winner adds, before seemingly poking fun at her flub.
From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 11, 2024
“I’m going to crack, Reynie. You know how badly I handle pressure. I’ll flub it tomorrow, and you’ll all be caught. What kind of friend will I be then?”
From "The Mysterious Benedict Society" by Trenton Lee Stewart
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.