Flub: meaning, definitions and examples

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flub

[ flʌb ]

Verb / Noun

^{Context #1 | Verb}

communication

To make a mess of something; to botch or bungle something.

Synonyms

botch, bungle, mess up.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

Word	Description / Examples
flub	Primarily used in casual or informal situations to indicate a minor mistake or error, often in speech or performance. I flubbed my lines during the presentation. She flubbed the high note in her song.
botch	Often used to describe a task done very poorly or incompetently, and usually conveys stronger disapproval than 'flub'. It can be used in both casual and formal settings. He completely botched the repair job. They botched the project's planning phase.
bungle	Generally suggests a clumsy or inept handling of a task, leading to failure or mistake. It's a bit more formal than 'mess up' but still common in both casual and formal contexts. She bungled the negotiation process. The company bungled their product launch.
mess up	This is a very casual and commonly used phrase suitable for indicating mistakes or errors in a broad range of situations, from minor to significant errors. I really messed up on the final exam. He messed up the entire meal preparation.

Examples of usage

I really flubbed my presentation at work today.
She flubbed her lines during the play.
Don't flub this opportunity to impress the interviewer.

^{Context #2 | Noun}

informal

A mistake or error, especially in performance or speech.

Synonyms

blunder, error, mistake.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

Word	Description / Examples
flub	Use this word for minor mistakes, especially in informal or casual conversations. It often implies a small or clumsy error that is usually not serious. She flubbed her lines during the rehearsal He flubbed the catch in the last minute of the game
mistake	Use this word in general for any wrong action or decision. It can be used in both casual and formal settings and is a common way to describe an error. I made a mistake on my test It was a mistake to arrive late to the meeting
error	Use this word in both formal and informal contexts to describe any mistake, regardless of its severity. It's a neutral term that can cover a wide range of scenarios. There was an error in the calculation The software is not running properly due to a coding error
blunder	Use this word for significant or serious mistakes, often involving a lapse in judgment. It usually has a heavier and more negative implication. His blunder in the report cost the company a major client She made a blunder by not verifying the information before the presentation

Examples of usage

The singer made a flub during the concert.
His flub in the game cost his team the victory.

Translations

Translations of the word "flub" in other languages:

🇵🇹 erro

🇮🇳 त्रुटि

🇩🇪 Fehler

🇮🇩 kesalahan

🇺🇦 помилка

🇵🇱 błąd

🇯🇵 間違い

🇫🇷 erreur

🇪🇸 error

🇹🇷 hata

🇰🇷 실수

🇸🇦 خطأ

🇨🇿 chyba

🇸🇰 chyba

🇨🇳 错误

🇸🇮 napaka

🇮🇸 villa

🇰🇿 қате

🇬🇪 შეცდომა

🇦🇿 səhv

🇲🇽 error

Etymology

The origin of the word 'flub' is uncertain, but it is believed to have emerged in American English in the early 20th century. It is thought to be an alteration of the word 'fluff,' which means a mistake or error. Over time, 'flub' has become commonly used in informal contexts to describe a mistake or error in performance or speech.

Word Frequency Rank

At position #41,310, this word is among the less frequently used terms in English. While interesting to know, it's not crucial for most English learners unless needed for specific purposes.

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