flop spectacularly

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "flop spectacularly" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a situation where something fails dramatically or in a very noticeable way. Example: "The movie was highly anticipated, but it ended up flopping spectacularly at the box office."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

From enrolling in charm school together to get their feminine wiles back, to teaming up to prove their husbands wrong, no task was too big for the dynamic duo -- and their shenanigans were guaranteed to flop spectacularly.

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

57 human-written examples

But not many did; it flopped spectacularly.

The New York Times - Magazine

First, however, a failure: Cop-Out, a short, surreal play that flopped spectacularly.

The Guardian

COLUMBUS, Ohio, Nov. 10 — For the second consecutive season, undefeated Ohio State flopped spectacularly in a big game.

The New York Times - Sports

Their 2006 rockumentary, The Pick of Destiny, flopped spectacularly at the box office, taking half of the money that it cost to make.

The Guardian - Music

Steinman's career was also having its ups and downs - he wrote Bonnie Tyler's hit single 'Total Eclipse of the Heart' and the lyrics for Andrew Lloyd Webber's Whistle Down the Wind, but his own show Dance of the Vampires flopped spectacularly on Broadway.

The Guardian

If they have heard of webisodes at all, it is probably in the context of "Quarterlife," a Web series that leapt to TV and flopped spectacularly in the ratings in February, or "Prom Queen," an online drama backed by Michael Eisner, the former chief of Walt Disney.

The New York Times

So when it flopped spectacularly, it was tough to accept.

BBC

The store becomes wildly successful under the management of the two boys, only to lose much of its newfound prosperity after Milhouse goes overboard in ordering a shipment of two thousand comics depicting "Biclops", a superhero with thick glasses, which flops spectacularly.

Wikipedia

How could so great a quarterback flop so spectacularly?

Huffington Post

IN MARCH, when Britain's chancellor, George Osborne, produced a budget that flopped rather spectacularly, there was a curiously postmodern touch to the reporting.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "flop spectacularly" to describe failures that are not only unsuccessful but also noticeably dramatic or unexpected. This emphasizes the scale and impact of the failure.

Common error

While "flop spectacularly" is acceptable in news and media, avoid using it in highly formal or academic writing. Opt for more neutral alternatives like "fail significantly" or "prove unsuccessful" in those settings.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "flop spectacularly" functions as an adverbial phrase, modifying a verb to emphasize the manner in which something failed. As confirmed by Ludwig AI, the usage is correct and describes a failure that is not only unsuccessful but also noticeably dramatic.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Science

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "flop spectacularly" is a grammatically correct adverbial phrase used to describe a failure that is both significant and dramatic. Ludwig AI confirms its validity and indicates its primary use in news and media contexts. While there are alternative phrases like "fail miserably" or "crash and burn", it's important to consider the formality of the context when choosing the most appropriate wording. Therefore, while acceptable in news and general writing, more formal language may be required in academic or business settings. The phrase's infrequency suggests mindful application to scenarios genuinely warranting its emphatic tone is advisable.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

fail miserably

Replaces "flop" with "fail" and "spectacularly" with "miserably", focusing on the abject nature of the failure.

bomb completely

Uses the verb "bomb" to emphasize the utter failure, maintaining a similar level of intensity.

crash and burn

An idiomatic expression suggesting a sudden and dramatic failure.

fall flat on its face

An idiomatic expression denoting a complete and embarrassing failure.

founder dramatically

Replaces "flop" with "founder" and "spectacularly" with "dramatically", giving a more formal tone.

be a complete disaster

Focuses on the disastrous outcome rather than the manner of failure.

tank without a trace

Emphasizes the thoroughness and lack of lingering impact from the failure.

go down in flames

Idiomatic and graphic, this phrase portrays a destructive and very visible failure.

prove to be a dismal failure

Highlights the disappointing nature of the failure.

unravel catastrophically

Suggests a breakdown or disintegration leading to a major failure, with an emphasis on the catastrophic nature of the event.

FAQs

What does it mean when something is said to "flop spectacularly"?

It means something has failed in a very noticeable and dramatic way, often unexpectedly. The failure is not just minor; it's a significant and often public event.

What can I say instead of "flop spectacularly"?

You can use alternatives like "fail miserably", "bomb completely", or "crash and burn" depending on the context.

Is "flop spectacularly" suitable for formal writing?

While grammatically correct, "flop spectacularly" might be too informal for academic papers or business reports. Consider using more neutral phrases like "fail significantly" or "prove unsuccessful".

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

Example: "The new product launch was highly anticipated, but it "flopped spectacularly" due to poor marketing and a flawed design."