Dud
Meaning: Something that fails to work as expected or turns out to be disappointing.
A 'dud' is something that simply doesn't deliver. Originally a bomb or firecracker that fails to explode, it now describes any disappointing thing — a boring date, a bad gift, a useless product. Unlike a 'flop' (which implies big expectations), a dud is simply a quiet disappointment. Something that fizzles out instead of shining.
Examples
- The fireworks show was a dud — half of them didn't even go off. 那场烟花秀是个哑炮——一半都没响。El espectáculo de fuegos artificiales fue un chasco — la mitad ni siquiera explotó.花火大会はハズレだった——半分は打ち上がりさえしなかった。불꽃놀이가 꽝이었어 — 절반은 터지지도 않았다.
- That blind date was a total dud. Zero chemistry. 那次相亲完全是个大失望。毫无化学反应。Esa cita a ciegas fue un fiasco total. Cero química.あのブラインドデートは完全なハズレ。相性ゼロだった。그 소개팅은 완전 꽝이었어. 케미가 전혀 없었다.
- I bought the viral kitchen gadget and it was a complete dud. 我买了那个网红厨房小工具,结果完全不好用。Compré el gadget de cocina viral y resultó ser una birria.話題のキッチングッズを買ったけど、完全なハズレだった。화제의 주방용품을 샀는데 완전히 꽝이었다.
Pronunciation
Usage Guide
Context: disappointment, products, dates, events
Tone: disappointed, matter-of-fact
✓ Do Say
- It was a dud.那是个哑炮。Fue un chasco.あれはハズレだった。완전 꽝이었어.
- Total dud.彻底没戏。Un fiasco total.完全なハズレ。완전 꽝.
✗ Don't Say
- Milder than 'trash' or 'garbage' — a dud is disappointing but not aggressively bad. Use for gentle disappointment比'trash'(垃圾)或'garbage'(废物)温和——dud是令人失望但并不是特别糟糕。用于表达温和的失望。Más suave que 'basura' o 'porquería' — un dud es decepcionante pero no agresivamente malo. Se usa para expresar una decepción leve「trash」や「garbage」よりマイルド——dudはがっかりではあるが、攻撃的にひどいわけではない。穏やかな失望に使うべき'쓰레기(trash)'나 '가비지(garbage)'보다 순한 표현 — 꽝은 실망스럽지만 공격적으로 나쁜 것은 아니다. 부드러운 실망감을 표현할 때 사용
Origin & History
From military terminology — a 'dud' is an explosive that fails to detonate, dating back to World War I. Extended to general American slang for anything that doesn't work or disappoints. Simple, vivid metaphor that stuck.
Cultural Context
Era: World War I onwards
Generation: All ages
Social background: Universal
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