Flub
/flʌb/noun
To make a clumsy mistake or blunder, especially in a performance or speech.
Did you know?Flub is a modern American slang word, likely a playful echo-word shaped by sound symbolism rather than a deep ancient root—proof that some words are born from the mouth itself, not the dictionary.
Etymological Timeline
Late 19th Century
English
flub
“To bungle, blunder, or make a mess of something.”
Late 19th Century
English
flubdub
“A nonsense or showy person; later associated with bluster or empty talk.”
Late 19th to Early 20th Century
American English
flub
“Slang for a mistake, especially in performance or speech.”
Modern English
English
flub
“To make a careless mistake or fail awkwardly.”