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Synonyms

fall flat

Idioms  

  1. Fail, prove to be ineffective, as in His jokes nearly always fell flat—no one ever laughed at them. [First half of 1800s]

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.

But even when Nebraska did reach the tournament, they found new and creative ways to fall flat on their faces.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 22, 2026

The tool has shown promise in preventing excessive flattery, which can fall flat with Gen Z women, Roth said.

From The Wall Street Journal • Oct. 22, 2025

"If it doesn't meet the tests set by them then it's going to fall flat," she said.

From BBC • Sep. 19, 2025

Shares in AI companies have powered a huge runup in the stock market this year, but users are beginning to question whether the craze will fall flat.

From Los Angeles Times • Sep. 5, 2024

Or fall flat on my face—a really long fall.

From "Amari and the Night Brothers" by B.B. Alston

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.