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flub

flub

5 7.7
An embarrassing mistake made when someone is careless or nervous
  • noun
  • /flʌb/
  • Informal
: error
  • So what quotes, missteps, and flubs has he uttered that show the way to his heart?
  • a big flub
  • more flubs

Decided to give you a little extra podcast flub and here we go.

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Examples

  • I think it is important to point out that one flub won't kill anyone.

    Blog text (1)
  • Abortion is front and center in the presidential campaign due to a congressman's flub on national TV.

    Blog text (12)
  • Was that a real flub?

  • The best part of the article was that it said, "Some students caught the flub."

    Blog text (26)
  • Whom do we blame for the flub?

    Academic text (2002)
  • I think it is important to remember that one flub alone won't usually kill anyone.

    Blog text (1)
  • With an encouraging touch, she caught my bad habits and flubs.

    Blog text (3)
  • The reality, though, is that we will all have gaffes now and then—flubs, blunders, or titanic disasters.

    Blog text (11)
  • The presenter made a flub when he mispronounced the guest's name on live television.

  • During the rehearsal, the actor's flub caused everyone to laugh and lose their focus.

Synonyms

mistake
vsflub
∞ 1.0

A wrong action or decision

is a careless or embarrassing error that adds shame or clumsiness
slip
vsflub
58 1.6

A small mistake made by accident or carelessness

is an embarrassing or careless error that may be more than minor
mix-up
vsflub
58 3.3

A mistake that happens when someone confuses one thing with another

is a careless or embarrassing error that is not only confusion based
boo-boo
vsflub
  • Baby Talk
54 7.2

A small mistake or little injury described in a childlike way

is an embarrassing or careless error used by adults and children alike
gaffe
vsflub
47 7.7

A remark or action made by accident that is embarrassing

is an embarrassing or careless error used in many everyday contexts
blunder
vsflub
45 3.0

A careless mistake that causes embarrassment or problems

is an embarrassing or careless error but not always as serious
misstep
vsflub
42 5.3

A small wrong action that causes embarrassment or harm to people's trust

is a careless or embarrassing error that may not be a brief wrong move
screw-up
vsflub
  • Informal
34 6.1

A careless mistake that causes problems or embarrassment

is an embarrassing or careless error but may be less harmful than failure
oversight
vsflub
31 4.7

A small mistake that someone does not notice

is an embarrassing or careless error that can be an action not only omission
screwup
vsflub
  • Informal
25 6.5

A problem that happens because of a big mistake and spoils plans

is an embarrassing or careless error that is not always a full mismanagement
faux pas
vsflub
15 8.8

An embarrassing act or remark that upsets people in social situations

is a careless or embarrassing error not restricted to social tactlessness
slip-up
vsflub
15 3.7

A small careless mistake you make by accident

is an embarrassing or careless error that can be larger or more serious
stumble
vsflub
13 3.4

A small mistake that is often embarrassing

is an embarrassing or careless error used more broadly than a slip
blooper
vsflub
12 6.1

An embarrassing mistake that happens in public or during a show

is a general embarrassing or careless error not only in public acts
trip
vsflub
  • Informal
9 3.5

A small mistake that causes embarrassment

is an embarrassing or careless error not limited to accidental physical slips
fuckup
vsflub
  • Offensive
7 9.9

A serious or embarrassing mistake that causes problems

is an embarrassing or careless error that is usually less severe or intense
boner
vsflub
  • Archaic
7 8.2

A silly or embarrassing mistake

is a careless embarrassing error that feels more neutral not just silly
foul-up
vsflub
  • Informal
5 7.7

A serious, embarrassing mistake often caused by confusion or poor planning

is an embarrassing or careless error that can also be minor
miscue
vsflub
4 7.7

A small unintentional mistake when speaking, writing, or performing an action

is an embarrassing or careless error used in many situations not only performances
botch
vsflub
2 7.6

An embarrassing mistake that happens because of bad or careless work

is an embarrassing or careless error that may not come from bad skill
bungle
vsflub
2 6.5

A careless mistake that shows a lack of skill

is an embarrassing or careless error not always caused by incompetence
howler
vsflub
  • Informal
1 7.2

An obvious embarrassing mistake that makes people laugh

is an embarrassing or careless error that is usually less glaring
pratfall
vsflub
1 8.7

An embarrassing mistake someone makes in public

is an embarrassing or careless error used for both private and public cases
bloomer
vsflub
  • Archaic
1 6.7

An embarrassing mistake that shows you were careless

is a careless or embarrassing error that does not imply foolishness
cockup
vsflub
  • Slang
1 9.6

A serious mistake that happens because of confusion or poor planning

is an embarrassing or careless error often less severe than total failure
trip-up
vsflub
1 6.5

A small mistake that causes embarrassment or trouble

is an embarrassing or careless error that can be broader than one brief fault
clanger
vsflub
  • UK
1 8.5

A big embarrassing mistake that other people notice

is an embarrassing or careless error that may be less noticeable to others
whoops
vsflub
  • Informal
1 7.0

A small mistake that does not cause much trouble

is an embarrassing or careless error with neutral register and wider use
cockbrained mistake
vsflub
  • Archaic
9.9

A foolish mistake made without thinking that causes trouble

is an embarrassing or careless error without necessarily implying foolishness
muff moment
vsflub
  • Informal
9.9

A short embarrassing mistake you make

is an embarrassing or careless error not always presented as a single incident

Antonyms

∞ 1.0

Getting what you want after working hard

168 3.7

A thing that has no mistakes and shows the best quality

How Serious

fiasco
78 6.2
blunder
45 3.0
flub
  • Informal
5 7.7
mistake
∞ 1.0
slip
58 1.6

Surface Forms

flub singular
flubs plural

Etymology

Flub probably comes from a soft sound, like something falling, and is like the word flop, so a flub became a name for an embarrassing 'mistake'.