fall flat
/ˌfɔːl ˈflæt/NEUTRAL · C1
Meaning
to fail to have the effect that was intended
Examples
- 1My joke about the long queue fell flat, and nobody even smiled.
- 2The new menu fell flat with regular customers, so the chef changed it back.
- 3The manager's big announcement fell flat; half the team didn't even look up from their laptops.
- 4Don't be upset if your speech falls flat; wedding guests are often tired by then.
- 5Why did the advert fall flat when everyone on the team loved it?
Grammar
fall is irregular: fell, fallen. The subject is usually a joke, an idea, a plan or a speech.
More idioms about success
All 20 idioms and the topic quiz →make the gradeto be good enough to succeeda flash in the pana success that happens once and does not lastriding highbeing very successful at the momentcome up trumpsto succeed or help when people did not expect itgo belly upto fail, especially as a businesslearn the hard wayto find something out through your own mistakes
English Idioms400 idioms in 20 topics — with reviews that keep them from fading
Here you get a couple of questions. The app gives you 16 practice modes, native equivalents and spaced repetition that tells you when it’s time to refresh.
