a flop

USAGE SUMMARY

'a flop' is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
You can use it to describe something that has been unsuccessful or disappointing. For example, "The movie was a flop at the box office."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

A flop?

The Guardian - Tech

"Loco" was a flop.

The New York Times

("Surviving Christmas" was a flop).

The New York Times

Not a cascade, a flop.

Independent

The show was a flop.

The New York Times

He may be a flop.

The Economist

But Copenhagen was a flop.

The Economist

The latter was a flop.

The New York Times - Sports

The dome was a flop.

The New York Times

But "Foodfight!" was a flop.

The New Yorker

HealthSmart was a flop.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

In critical writing, pair the phrase with a specific context (e.g. "box-office flop" or "commercial flop") to give the reader more precise information about the nature of the failure.

Common error

Avoid using "a flop" in formal scientific or technical reports where objective terms like "technical malfunction", "procedural error" or "null result" are expected. "a flop" carries a subjective, judgmental tone more suited for commentary and reviews.

Linguistic Context

In English, "a flop" functions as a countable noun phrase consisting of the indefinite article and a noun derived from the verb to flop. It typically occupies the predicative position after a linking verb like was or has been. According to Ludwig AI, the phrase is grammatically correct and most often used to characterize the outcome of an endeavor.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

70%

Formal & Business

20%

Wiki

10%

Less common in

Science

2%

Academia

5%

Reference

3%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In conclusion, "a flop" is a highly versatile and effective noun phrase used to label unsuccessful ventures across entertainment, technology and politics. Analysis from Ludwig shows that while it is technically a noun, it carries a strong descriptive weight, often implying that a failure was particularly noticeable or disappointing given its initial hype. Whether you are reading The New York Times or TechCrunch, you will find "a flop" used as a sharp tool for social and commercial critique. Writers should feel confident using it in journalistic and professional contexts, provided they want to add a touch of personality to their assessment of failure.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a failure

Provides a more literal and neutral description of the lack of success

a dud

More informal and often refers specifically to a product or object that doesn't work

a washout

Suggests a total failure that leaves no positive impact or trace

a disaster

Adds a hyperbolic or intense sense of how badly the event went

a bomb

Common in entertainment contexts, particularly referring to movies or plays

a non-starter

Describes something that failed to gain any momentum from the very beginning

a debacle

Used for failures that are particularly messy, embarrassing or chaotic

an unsuccessful venture

A highly formal and clinical business alternative

a bust

Short, punchy and highly colloquial common in North American English

a disappointment

Focuses on the emotional reaction of the audience rather than just the outcome

FAQs

How do I use "a flop" in a sentence?

You can use it as a predicate nominative after a linking verb, for example: "The ambitious new social media app turned out to be "a flop" among younger users."

Is "a flop" considered too informal for business writing?

It is widely used in high-level business journalism like The Economist, but for internal corporate reports, you might prefer a more neutral term like "unsuccessful launch" or "underperforming asset".

What is the difference between "a flop" and "a failure"?

While "a failure" is a broad term for any lack of success, "a flop" specifically implies something that was expected to be a hit or was highly publicized before it failed.

Can I use "a flop" to describe a person?

Yes, it can describe someone who failed in a specific role, such as "He was "a flop as" a fashion designer", though this is more personal and less common than describing an event.