flat (redirected from flatlet)

*flat as a board and *flat as a pancake

Cliché very flat. (Also used to describe someone's chest or abdomen, referring to well-developed abdominal muscles or small or nearly absent breasts or pectoral muscles-in either sex. *Also: as ~.) Jane was flat as a board until she was sixteen, when she suddenly blossomed. Lucy can mash an aluminum can flat as a pancake with one blow from her heel.

See also: board

catch someone red-handed and catch someone flat-footed

to catch a person in the act of doing something wrong. (See also caught red-handed.) Tom was stealing the car when the police drove by and caught him red-handed. Mary tried to cash a forged check at the bank, and the teller caught her red-handed.

See also: catch

flat broke and flat busted

Fig. having no money at all. Sorry, I'm flat broke. Not a cent on me. You may be flat broke, but you will find a way to pay your electricity bill or you will live in the dark. Mary was flat busted, and it was two more weeks before she was due to get paid.

See also: broke

flat on one's ass 

1. Fig. Inf. completely exhausted. (Potentially offensive. Use only with discretion.) I'm just flat on my ass. I need some rest. After the day of the marathon, Pete was flat on his ass for a week.

2. Fig. Inf. broke; financially destroyed. (Potentially offensive. Use only with discretion. An elaboration of flat broke.) Sorry, I can't help you. I'm broke—flat on my ass. The guy's flat on his ass. Can you help him out with a loan?

See also: ass

flat on one's back

ill in bed. I've been on my back with the flu for two weeks. She was flat on her back during her illness.

See also: back

flat out 

1. clearly and definitely; holding nothing back. I told her flat out that I didn't like her. They reported flat out that the operation was a failure.

2. at top speed. How fast will this car go flat out? This car will hit about 110 miles per hour flat out.

See also: out

in nothing flat and in no time flat

Fig. very quickly; in much less time than expected. Of course I can get there in a hurry. I'll be there in nothing flat. We covered the distance between New York and Philadelphia in nothing flat. The waiter brought our food in no time flat.

See also: nothing

leave someone flat 

1. Fig. to fail to entertain or stimulate someone. Your joke left me flat. We listened carefully to his lecture, but it left us flat.

2. Fig. to leave someone without any money—flat broke. Paying all my bills left me flat. The robber took all my money and left me flat.

3. Fig. to leave someone completely and suddently alone. I was at the dance with Harry, but when he met Alice, he left me flat. They just walked off and left us flat.

See also: leave

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be as flat as a pancake

to be very flat My cake hasn't risen - it's as flat as a pancake!

See also: pancake

be flat broke  (informal)

to have no money at all I can't even pay the rent this month. I'm flat broke.

See also: broke

catch somebody red-handed

to discover someone doing something illegal or wrong (often + doing sth) I caught him red-handed trying to break into my car.

See also: catch

fall flat 

1. if an entertainment or a joke falls flat, people do not enjoy it and do not think it is funny Several attempts at humour during his speech fell flat.

2. if an attempt to influence people's behaviour or opinions falls flat, it fails The advertising campaign which had worked so well in the US fell flat in China. The statement that pregnancy is not an illness falls flat with many morning sickness sufferers.

See also: fall

fall flat on your/its face

to fail or make a mistake in an embarrassing way The new scheme fell flat on its face in spite of all the financial support that was given. It's always amusing to see a newscaster fall flat on his face.

See also: face, fall

flat out 

1. if a person or a machine is doing something flat out, they are doing it as fast and with as much energy as they can (often + to do sth) The decorators have been working flat out to get the job finished. My car only does 60 mph, even when it's going flat out.

2. (American) if someone says something flat out, they say it in a very clear and direct way, even if it might upset people He called up and flat out asked if I was having an affair with Bob.

See fall flat

See also: out

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fall flat (on your face)

to fail completely Most of her jokes fell flat and her act was a disaster. It used to be an amazing magazine, but it's fallen flat on its face.

See also: fall

flat out

1. clearly and without confusion The coach told me flat out, “You're too small.” I don't want to flat out say I never did it when maybe I just don't remember having done it.

2. as fast as possible The painters have been working flat out to get the job finished. She drives as though her car has only two speeds – flat out and stopped.

See also: out