Flub

To flub means to perform an action poorly, to make a mistake, or to botch a task, often due to clumsiness, lack of preparation, or a lapse in concentration. It implies a noticeable error that could have been avoided with more care or skill. This can apply to any action, from delivering a speech to playing a sport. The resulting effect can range from minor embarrassment to significant failure, depending on the context and the importance of the task.

Flub meaning with examples

• During his presentation, the nervous intern completely flubbed the statistics, stumbling over the numbers and presenting inaccurate data. His manager, visibly exasperated, had to correct him in front of the entire board. The presentation, previously promising, was now marred by the intern's failure, highlighting his lack of preparedness and attention to detail.
• The shortstop, known for his reliability, shockingly flubbed an easy ground ball during the final inning, leading to the opposing team scoring the winning run. The crowd gasped as the ball slipped right through his glove. His costly mistake, a result of overconfidence, ended the game, and the team's hopes of advancing in the tournament.
• The amateur actor, unfortunately, flubbed his lines during the crucial scene, forgetting his cues and disrupting the play's flow. The audience murmured with disappointment. The missed lines, likely due to a lack of practice, ruined the emotional impact of the moment and left the lead actress visibly annoyed by the disruption.
• The baker, attempting a complex cake for a competition, disastrously flubbed the icing, producing a lopsided and unprofessional finish. The judges, with a polite frown, gave the cake a low score. The mishap, stemming from rushed work, ruined the presentation, showcasing poor craftsmanship and ruining the whole effort.
• Despite weeks of rehearsals, the dancer noticeably flubbed several steps during the ballet performance, losing her grace and coordination on stage. The audience could sense her mistake. The errors, a sign of tiredness and tension, revealed the consequences of not perfecting the choreography and slightly disappointed the observers.