fall flat

/fˈɔːl flˈat/

/fˈɔːl flˈæt/

[phrase]

to fall flat

[PHRASE]

(of a joke, remark, event, etc.) to be completely unsuccessful in amusing people or having the desired effect

synonyms : fall through

flop

founder

What is the origin of the idiom "fall flat" and when to use it?

The origin of the idiom "fall flat" is uncertain, but it is believed to be related to the idea of a joke or comedic performance that fails to elicit the desired response from the audience, causing the energy or mood of the performance to "fall flat." Over time, the phrase has come to be used more generally to describe any situation where something fails to achieve the desired outcome, whether it be a joke, a performance, a product launch, or any other situation where success or impact is expected.

Examples

1. The comedian's joke fell flat and no one in the audience laughed.

2. The team's attempt at a trick play fell flat and resulted in a turnover.

3. The new product launch fell flat when it failed to generate much interest or sales.

4. Except the accessibility, in terms of interpretation, fell flat because the parade was in front of us, and the interpreters and the announcers were behind us.

Nearby words