fall flat

phrase

: to produce no response or result

the joke fell flat

Examples of fall flat in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

The deal is Novo’s second since its investor day last week, when its pledges to boost growth with new drugs fell flat. — Ed Silverman, STAT, 29 Sep. 2026

But the fantasy-death quiz falls flat and feels more like a second defeat than a comedy tag. — Tasha Robinson, Vulture, 22 Sep. 2026

Even the most beautiful design falls flat without function; true luxury lies in the way things move, open, and align. — Angelika Pokovba, Martha Stewart, 21 Sep. 2026

Instead, the administration has proposed cutting more than 9,400 of my fellow workers and launched a new effort to privatize TSA — Horizon 25 — after the TSA Gold+ privatization campaign fell flat. — Hydrick Thomas, New York Daily News, 11 Sep. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1841, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for fall flat

• begat
• bobcat
• chitchat
• doormat
• ducat
• eclat
• format
• hazmat
• muskrat
• nonfat
• polecat
• thereat