Question
17 January
- German
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English (US)
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Italian
Question about English (US)
I think “to fall flat” means to fail to have the desired effect. Correct? Please, tell me everything that can “fall flat” —> movies? trips? Do you know any synonyms & antonyms for “to fall flat”? Thanks for your help!
I think “to fall flat” means to fail to have the desired effect. Correct? Please, tell me everything that can “fall flat” —> movies? trips? Do you know any synonyms & antonyms for “to fall flat”? Thanks for your help!
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17 January
Featured answer
- English (US)
Yes.
• That joke fell flat. [a joke was told; nobody thought it was funny]
• That suggestion fell flat. [an idea was tendered; nobody thought it was a good idea]
There are phrases that are funny (maybe) that mean "to fall flat."
• The program [went over like a lead balloon.]
Highly-rated answerer
Read more comments
- English (US)
Yes.
• That joke fell flat. [a joke was told; nobody thought it was funny]
• That suggestion fell flat. [an idea was tendered; nobody thought it was a good idea]
There are phrases that are funny (maybe) that mean "to fall flat."
• The program [went over like a lead balloon.]
Highly-rated answerer
- English (US)
Falling flat =failure. Not a strong failure however. Flat means not excited. However you can combine falling flat with parts of your body to modulate the impact.
1. “I fell flat on my ass” =negative
2. I fell flat on my face = negative, not successful usually because you ignore advice of others
3. I fell flat on head = uncoordinated, refers to sporting events where you do badly
- German
@1953Silvertone Thanks! Could I also say, “Our trip to Rome fell flat because of bad weather”, or “The new tv series fell flat (= it was a flop)?
- English (US)
I think everyone would understand it. If you said that, everyone I know would just think they had not heard that new use of the expression, but would instantly understand and accept.
The TV example works better. It seems that things offered to [but not accepted by] the public are the things that "fall flat."
Highly-rated answerer
- German
@Brian_Peddie Thanks! So could I say:
1. I asked him for his number, but I fell flat on my ass.
2. At my last oral English exam, I fell flat on my face.
3. I fell flat on head when I tried to play darts at that bar.
1. I asked him for his number, but I fell flat on my ass.
2. At my last oral English exam, I fell flat on my face.
3. I fell flat on head when I tried to play darts at that bar.
- English (US)
@LisaStefanie I'm afraid all those sound odd to me. 1 & 2 are literal… "I went ice skating and fell flat on my ass." "I tripped over the garden hose and fell flat on my face."
"flat on head" is absolutely new to me; I have never heard that.
Highly-rated answerer
- German
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