a total flop

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a total flop" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe something that has failed completely or has not met expectations, such as a project, event, or product. Example: "The movie was highly anticipated, but it turned out to be a total flop at the box office."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

34 human-written examples

And a total flop.

The New York Times

The party was a total flop.

The New York Times - Style

Or, of course, the technology could be a total flop.

The New York Times

That stage has turned out to be a failure if not a total flop.

The New York Times

He could, however, be running into a year that is a total flop.

The New York Times - Sports

It minimizes the risk of a total flop, since it guarantees at least one good weekend.

The New Yorker

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

24 human-written examples

It was a total, inexplicable flop.

Independent

Sadly for Melville, but happily for us, Melville couldn't stop being Melville – he wrote a brilliant book that was a total commercial flop.

The Guardian - Books

While Amazon notoriously keeps sales figures around its products close to its chest, there have been signals that the affordable Echo speaker has turned out to be one of the company's hardware hits, following the total flop of its Fire Phone and a re-organization at its hardware R&D group, Lab126.

TechCrunch

While it is possible to push more work to the GPU, and thus increasing the total FLOP rate, this comes at the expense of an increased time-to-solution.

Computational Astrophysics and Cosmology

Therefore, the total flop count of optimal selection is (21) (21).

EURASIP Journal on Wireless Communications and Networking

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "a total flop" to describe something that has completely failed to meet expectations, whether it's a product, event, or idea. Ensure the context clearly indicates what the subject of the failure is.

Common error

Avoid using "a total flop" to describe minor setbacks or temporary inconveniences. This phrase implies a complete and irreversible failure, so reserve it for situations where the negative outcome is significant and comprehensive.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a total flop" functions as a noun phrase, often serving as a predicate nominative or an appositive. It describes something that has failed completely. Ludwig's examples showcase its use in various contexts to denote a lack of success.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

79%

Science

15%

Formal & Business

3%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "a total flop" is a common phrase used to describe something that has completely failed. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and usability across various contexts, predominantly in News & Media. While generally acceptable, it leans towards informality, suggesting that more precise alternatives like "a complete failure" might be preferable in formal writing. When writing, ensure you're not overstating a minor setback by labeling it "a total flop", as this phrase conveys a significant and comprehensive failure.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a complete failure

Emphasizes the lack of success in a more general way.

an utter disaster

Highlights the catastrophic nature of the failure.

a dismal failure

Stresses the depressing or discouraging aspect of the failure.

a resounding defeat

Suggests a clear and decisive loss, often in a competitive context.

a spectacular failure

Highlights the scale and visibility of the failure.

a dead loss

Implies that something is completely worthless or unproductive.

a lost cause

Indicates that further effort is futile, and success is impossible.

went down like a lead balloon

Idiomatic expression for something that was very poorly received.

bombed completely

Slang term for failing spectacularly.

fell flat

Implies a lack of impact or excitement, often in the context of a performance or joke.

FAQs

What does "a total flop" mean?

The phrase "a total flop" means something has completely failed or been entirely unsuccessful. It implies a significant disappointment and a lack of desired results.

How can I use "a total flop" in a sentence?

You can use "a total flop" to describe anything that didn't succeed, such as "The new product launch was "a total flop"" or "The party turned out to be "a total flop" because no one showed up."

What can I say instead of "a total flop"?

You can use alternatives like "a complete failure", "an utter disaster", or "a dismal failure" depending on the context.

Is it appropriate to use "a total flop" in formal writing?

While generally acceptable, "a total flop" is somewhat informal. In formal writing, consider using more precise alternatives such as "a complete failure" or "unsuccessful outcome" to maintain a professional tone.