flub the dub
old-fashioned To fail to do what one is supposed to do; to bungle or botch something. Unfortunately, he is notorious for flubbing the dub in similar roles of authority. Why on earth they would put him in charge is beyond me. Everyone knew her political campaign was over after she flubbed the dub so spectacularly in the 1964 Senate election. If I want the boss to seriously consider me for the promotion, I know I can't flub the dub on this project.
flub up
1. verb To make a mistake, often an embarrassing one. A noun or pronoun can be used between "flub" and "up." Oh man, I totally flubbed up that intro—I was trying to read the teleprompter, but then I started tripping over my words. All Sally had to do was alphabetize these files, and she still flubbed it up somehow! They're all out of order! She's mortified because she flubbed up her first performance on national TV.
2. verb To cause someone to make a mistake. A noun or pronoun can be used between "flub" and "up." Come on, let me try again—the cat running across the street totally flubbed me up that time! Would you get out of here? I need to record this message, and you'll just flub me up. I know you need to be ready for anything as a performer, but that sudden feedback from the sound system totally flubbed me up.
3. noun Such a mistake. In this usage, the phrase is often hyphenated. Oh man, this is a colossal flub-up. What am I going to tell the boss? Dude, if you can't record the message without a flub-up, I'm going to have to get someone else to do it. We can't afford a flub-up when we're the ones processing payment for the entire company.
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms. © 2024 Farlex, Inc, all rights reserved.
flub something up
to mess something up; to ruin something. I saw you play in the tournament last Friday. You really flubbed it up, if you don't mind me saying so. You really flubbed up the tournament.
flub the dub
Inf. to fail to do the right thing. Martin is flubbing the dub with the fund-raising campaign. Please don't flub the dub this time.
flub up
to make an error. I flubbed up again!
McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs. © 2002 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.
flub up
v.1. To make a mistake, especially out of confusion or ignorance: He tried to tell the joke, but he flubbed up the punch line. She is nervous about giving the toast and will probably flub it up. My taxes were incorrect because my accountant flubbed up.
2. To cause someone or something to blunder: I tried to hold my camera steady for the shot, but all the insects buzzing around flubbed me up. The constant distractions flubbed up the actor.
The American Heritage® Dictionary of Phrasal Verbs. Copyright © 2005 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
flub something up
tv. to do something incorrectly; to mess up a procedure. Now don’t flub this up.
flub the dub
tv. to fail to do the right thing. Martin is flubbing the dub with the fund-raising campaign.
flub (up)
1. and flub-up n. an error; a blunder. Who is responsible for this flub-up?
2. in. to mess up; to foul up. You are flubbing up again, aren’t you?
flub
verbflub-up
verbMcGraw-Hill's Dictionary of American Slang and Colloquial Expressions Copyright © 2006 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved.
flub the dub, to
To loaf or evade duty; also, to bungle or botch. This term dates from the first half of the 1900s and became widely current during World War II. Early on it also was slang for male masturbation, but that sense has not survived. John Hersey used it in G.I. Laughs (1943), “Wanders from barracks to barracks . . . generally flubbing his dub.” And D. Stagg (in Glory Jumpers (1959), “The Air Corps flubbed the dub again and scattered the drop.”
The Dictionary of Clichés by Christine Ammer Copyright © 2013 by Christine Ammer