backfire -
When a plan fails, and it has the opposite result of what was intended.
The politician tried to hide his assets, in order to appear like a common man. But his plan backfired when they were revealed, and people saw that he was a liar.
audio
14 of41 Bad /
Mistake
nounverb noun
flop -
A failure
When no one bought tickets for the play after opening night, the producer realized that it was going to be a flop.
audio
15 of41 Bad /
Mistake
nounverb noun
Picture
slip -
A small mistake or accident, often due to carelessness.
After he commented about her weight, he apologized for that slip of the tongue that he wished he hadn't said,
audio
16 of41 Bad /
Mistake
noun
fluke -
Unlikely chance occurrence, especially a surprising piece of luck
Since he was the worst player on his baseball team, Taylor knew the home run he had just hit was a fluke.
audio
17 of41 Bad /
Mistake
nounverb noun
fumble -
An act of using the hands clumsily while doing or handling something
Owen made a major fumble on his date when he knocked over his glass of wine.
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18 of41 Bad /
Mistake
nounverb verb
fumble -
Use the hands clumsily while doing or handling something
The football player fumbled the ball, so the opposing players tried to grab it.
audio
19 of41 Bad /
Mistake
noun
Picture
aberration -
A departure from what is normal, usual, or expected.
The principal let Johnny go without any punishment, because his outburst had been an aberration from his usual good behavior.
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20 of41 Bad /
Mistake
adjective
Picture
Inadvertent -
Not deliberately planned or intended.
He made an inadvertent mistake by sending the email to the wrong person.
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21 of41 Bad /
Mistake
noun
Picture
Misconception -
A wrong and often widespread assumption based on faulty thinking or lack of information.
There’s a common misconception that bats are blind.
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22 of41 Bad /
Mistake
verb
botch -
Carry out a task badly or carelessly
Eric botched the assignment that he was asked to do, so his supervisor had to reprimand him.
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23 of41 Bad /
Mistake
noun
blooper -
An embarrassing error
Movies will frequently have blooper reels where the actors laugh and ruin a scene.
audio
24 of41 Bad /
Mistake
adjective
indiscreet -
Saying something that should be private, showing a lack of judgment,
John realized that he had been indiscreet when he revealed on the job interview as a financial advisor that he had lost all his money in the stock market.
