flunk out

Idioms  

1. Expel or be expelled from a school because one's work does not meet the required standard. For example, He flunked out of Harvard after just one year . [ Slang ; early 1800s]

2. Fail at anything, as in The camera ran out of film so we flunked out as photographers . [ Slang ; late 1800s]

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Example Sentences

The difference between dropping the SAT and dropping the civil service examination is that incompetent students flunk out in a year or so.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 19, 2026

If I got a football scholarship but had no place to live, no priority registration and no financial support, I’d flunk out of school.

From Los Angeles Times • Sep. 9, 2021

He said standards are high enough that about 5-to-10% of those inducted into Horizon’s training program flunk out and never become line pilots.

From Seattle Times • Dec. 5, 2019

In fact, about 90 percent of experimental treatments flunk out during clinical trials, either because they aren’t shown to be any more effective than the standard treatment or because their side effects are too severe.

From Slate • Jul. 25, 2017

Wait for her to say something like: “What? Coach got you reading now? Afraid you’re gonna flunk out and drop off the team?”

From "Bronx Masquerade" by Nikki Grimes