flunk

Of a student, to fail a class; to not pass.

Verb

  1. Of a student, to fail a class; to not pass.
    • He flunked math, again.
  2. Of a teacher, to deny a student a passing grade.
    • Unsatisfied with Fred's progress, the teacher flunked him.
  3. To fail any challenge
  4. To shirk (a task or duty).
  5. To back out through fear. (Commonly in the phrase 'flunk it', the 'it' referring to a specific task avoided; sometimes without specific reference, describing a person's attitude to life in general.)

Origin

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

Forms

flunks flunking flunked

Related

flunk out

Derived

flunkable flunkee flunker flunkout