flunk

flunk

to fail in (schoolwork): to flunk a science examination
to give a mark of failure to (a student)

Origin of flunk

19th-c. college slang from uncertain or unknown; perhaps funk or echoic

to fail, esp. in schoolwork
to give up; retreat

a failure
a mark or grade of failure

flunk Idioms

flunk out

Informal

to send or be sent away from school or college because of unsatisfactory work

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MLA Style

"flunk." YourDictionary, n.d. Web. 18 January 2019. <https://www.yourdictionary.com/Flunk>.

APA Style

flunk. (n.d.). Retrieved January 18th, 2019, from https://www.yourdictionary.com/Flunk

flunk

Informal

verb

flunked, flunk·ing, flunks

verb

intransitive

To fail, especially in a course or an examination.

verb

transitive

a. To fail (an examination or course).
b. To give a failing grade to (a student).
To fail (a drug test, as for a performance enhancing substance).

noun

A failure.
A failing grade.

Phrasal Verbs: flunk out To expel or be expelled from a school or course because of work that does not meet required standards.

Origin of flunk

Origin unknown

Related Forms:

flunk′er
noun

THE AMERICAN HERITAGE® DICTIONARY OF THE ENGLISH LANGUAGE, FIFTH EDITION by the Editors of the American Heritage Dictionaries. Copyright © 2016, 2011 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

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Link to this page

Cite this page

MLA Style

"flunk." YourDictionary, n.d. Web. 18 January 2019. <https://www.yourdictionary.com/Flunk>.

APA Style

flunk. (n.d.). Retrieved January 18th, 2019, from https://www.yourdictionary.com/Flunk

Verb

(third-person singular simple present flunks, present participle flunking, simple past and past participle flunked)

(US, intransitive) Of a student, to fail a class; to not pass.
He flunked math, again.
(US) Of a teacher, to deny a student a passing grade.
Unsatisfied with Fred's progress, the teacher flunked him.
(US, dated, informal) To shirk (a task or duty).
To back out through fear.

Origin

Alteration of funk, or perhaps a blend of flinch and funk.

English Wiktionary. Available under CC-BY-SA license.

Link/Cite

Link to this page

Cite this page

MLA Style

"flunk." YourDictionary, n.d. Web. 18 January 2019. <https://www.yourdictionary.com/Flunk>.

APA Style

flunk. (n.d.). Retrieved January 18th, 2019, from https://www.yourdictionary.com/Flunk

flunk

flunk

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