flunk

[fluhngk] /flʌŋk/
verb (used without object)
1.
to fail in a course or examination.
verb (used with object)
2.
to fail to get a passing mark in:
to flunk math.
3.
to give a failing grade to; remove (a student) as unqualified from a school or course.
noun
4.
a failure, as in a course or examination.
Verb phrases
5.
flunk out, to fail and be unable to continue in:
He flunked out of flight school.
Origin
1815-25, Americanism; perhaps akin to flinch1, funk1
Related forms
unflunked, adjective
Examples from the web for flunk
  • And if you flunk out, you might not get a second chance because there are age limits for admissions.
  • We flunk students all the time for not understanding the basic concepts in their field.
  • Unfortunately, the continent's rulers are likely to flunk it.
  • We have real grading and performance standards and enforce them, and flunk out a lot of students.
  • Teachers were routinely pressured not to flunk students.
  • Others simply flunk out because they can't do the work.
  • It is argued that the fad to flunk kindergarten children is the product of inappropriate curriculum.
  • For example, suppose you find out that he had an illness that caused him to flunk out of school and get into a car accident.
British Dictionary definitions for flunk

flunk

/flʌŋk/
verb
1.
to fail or cause to fail to reach the required standard in (an examination, course, etc)
2.
(intransitive) foll by out. to be dismissed from a school or college through failure in examinations
noun
3.
a low grade below the pass standard
Word Origin
C19: perhaps from flinch1 + funk1
Word Origin and History for flunk
v.

1823, American English college slang, original meaning "to back out, give up, fail," traditionally said to be an alteration of British university slang funk "to be frightened, shrink from" (see funk (n.1)). Related: Flunked; flunking.

Slang definitions & phrases for flunk

flunk

noun

: I've got three passes and two flunks

verb
  1. To fail; make a botch of: I tried selling, but flunked at that
  2. To fail an examination, a course, etc; bust: He flunked the final but passed the course
  3. To give a student a failing grade

[1823+ College; origin unknown; perhaps a blend of fail with funk, perhaps echoic of a dull collapse]