there were some flops

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "there were some flops" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to refer to failures or unsuccessful attempts in various contexts, such as business, entertainment, or projects. Example: "Despite the overall success of the event, there were some flops that we need to learn from for next time."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

There were some flops.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

57 human-written examples

Though there were some serious flops this week, Rebecca Hall's outfit takes the cake.

Huffington Post

Though there were some serious flops this week, the worst-dressed award has to go to Sienna Miller.

Huffington Post

But as the season wound up -- most do not count the holidays ending until Dec. 31 -- there were some flip-flops on estimates for individual retailers.

The New York Times

Whether it was Mindy Kaling's disappearing belt, Portia de Rossi's sparkly jumpsuit or Lena Dunham's busy look, there were some daring choices that flopped.

Huffington Post

"The measures were very piecemeal, ad hoc, and there was some government flip-flopping, which didn't inspire a great deal of confidence," he said.

BBC

With all of these risks being taken, there's bound to be some flops in the bunch (everyone is still depressed over Nation Wide's reminder that children die).

Huffington Post

And maybe tell them to think twice about visiting Pittsburgh -- I think there's some type of flip-flop virus in the water (I kid of course, I've been to Pittsburgh twice and it is surprisingly one of the prettiest and greenest places in America).

Huffington Post

Even though we are enjoying the casual "yay! no tie, flip-flops" beach wedding, there are some rules that always apply: Shave.

WikiHow

There were flops, like "Some of My Best Friends," starring Ted Knight, in 1977.

The New York Times

Or perhaps that there were bigger flops – particularly for teams like the Rangers or Devils.

The Guardian - Sport

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When discussing performance or outcomes, use "there were some flops" to acknowledge failures without being overly harsh. It's a balanced way to address shortcomings.

Common error

Avoid using "there were some flops" in highly formal or professional settings. Opt for more sophisticated language like "there were some setbacks" or "some attempts were unsuccessful" to maintain a professional tone.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "there were some flops" functions as a statement acknowledging the existence of failures or unsuccessful attempts within a given context. Ludwig AI confirms the phrase's correctness and usability in written English.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Wiki

20%

Science

5%

Less common in

Formal & Business

5%

Encyclopedias

5%

Academia

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "there were some flops" is a grammatically correct and commonly used way to acknowledge failures or unsuccessful attempts. While suitable for neutral and informal contexts, it might be too colloquial for formal writing, where alternatives like "there were some setbacks" or "some attempts were unsuccessful" are more appropriate. Ludwig AI confirms the phrase's general correctness. Its usage spans across various sources, including news media and wikis, indicating its broad applicability. When writing, consider the formality of the context and choose the phrasing that best aligns with your intended audience and message.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

there were a few failures

Replaces "flops" with a more formal synonym, "failures", while keeping the overall structure and meaning the same.

some attempts were unsuccessful

Shifts the focus to the attempts themselves, highlighting their lack of success rather than directly labeling them as "flops".

a few projects did not succeed

Emphasizes the lack of success of projects, offering a slightly more formal and specific context.

certain endeavors proved fruitless

Uses more formal language to convey the idea that some efforts did not yield positive results.

several initiatives failed to deliver

Focuses on the failure of initiatives to meet expectations or produce desired outcomes.

not all efforts were successful

Provides a general statement about the lack of universal success in a series of attempts.

some undertakings fell short

Suggests that certain efforts did not reach the required standard or expectations.

a number of ventures proved disappointing

Highlights the disappointing nature of certain ventures, implying a failure to meet hopes or expectations.

there were instances of setbacks

Replaces "flops" with "setbacks", focusing on temporary impediments or reversals in progress.

certain plans did not work out

Offers a more straightforward and less critical way of saying that some plans were unsuccessful.

FAQs

How can I rephrase "there were some flops" to sound more formal?

To sound more formal, you could use phrases such as "there were some setbacks", "some attempts were unsuccessful", or "certain initiatives failed to deliver" depending on the context.

Is "there were some flops" appropriate for academic writing?

While grammatically correct, "there were some flops" may be too informal for academic writing. Consider using more formal alternatives like "there were a few failures" or "certain endeavors proved fruitless".

What's a more neutral way to say "there were some flops"?

A more neutral alternative could be "not all efforts were successful" or "some attempts were unsuccessful", which acknowledge the lack of success without using a potentially negative word like "flops".

How does the meaning of "there were some flops" change if I use "failures" instead?

Replacing "flops" with "failures" ("there were a few failures") primarily shifts the tone to be more formal and less colloquial. The core meaning of unsuccessful attempts remains the same.