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Glite Dictionary
to pull a Homer

to pull a Homer

1 9.9
To make a big embarrassing mistake that others notice
  • idiom
  • Slang
translation icon : cometer un error
  • She pulled a Homer by sending the email to the wrong person.

Examples

  • I can't believe you pulled a Homer during that important presentation.

  • After forgetting his passport at home, he realized he'd pulled a Homer.

  • Don't pull a Homer during the presentation!

  • She pulled a Homer when she forgot her lines.

  • During the presentation, I accidentally showed the incorrect slide, really pulling a Homer in front of everyone.

  • She pulled a Homer when she forgot to turn in her final paper on time.

  • After miscalculating the budget, he realized he had pulled a Homer that would cost the team dearly.

Synonyms

to make a blunder
vsto pull a Homer
1 4.2

Do something that is a serious and embarrassing mistake

tends to be more humorous and unexpectedly embarrassing
to drop a bollock
vsto pull a Homer
  • Offensive
9.9

To make a serious, embarrassing mistake by being careless

is similar but often results in more comic surprise
to pull a fuckbonnet
vsto pull a Homer
  • Offensive
9.9

To make a silly mistake that makes people laugh at you

focuses more on comic or unexpected embarrassment than mere foolishness
to belly-flop
vsto pull a Homer
  • Informal
6.9

To fail completely in an embarrassing way

describes a single embarrassing mistake rather than total failure

How Embarrassing

to pull a Homer
  • Slang
1 9.9
to mistake
37 1.0
to slip up
  • Informal
27 4.1

Surface Forms

pull a Homer infinitive
pulled a Homer past
pulled a Homer past participle
pulling a Homer present participle
pulls a Homer third person singular

Morphology

pull + a + Homer

The meaning "to make a significant or embarrassing mistake" cannot be deduced from the literal parts: 'pull' + 'a' + the proper name 'Homer'. The expression relies on a cultural or idiosyncratic reference (e.g., Homer Simpson or a specific anecdote) rather than compositional semantics, so a B1 learner who only knows the constituents would not predict the idiomatic sense.

Etymology

Pull a Homer comes from the TV character Homer Simpson, who is famous for making big, silly mistakes. Saying someone 'pulled a Homer' is like saying they copied one of his foolish errors, so it means 'to make a big or embarrassing mistake'.