滑る

• Reading: すべる
• Romaji: suberu
• Kanji breakdown: 滑 (slip/slide) → metaphor for a joke sliding past the audience without landing
• Pronunciation: /su.be.ɾu/

Meaning

To bomb or flop — describes a joke or attempt at humour that completely fails to land with the audience.

Literally meaning 'to slip or slide,' 滑る in comedy slang describes the moment a joke falls flat and gets no reaction. The metaphor captures the sensation of slipping on ice — the comedian loses their footing with the audience. It is one of the most feared outcomes in Japanese comedy culture and is used both in professional comedy discussion and everyday conversation when someone's joke doesn't land.

Examples

1. あのギャグ完全に滑ったよね、誰も笑ってなかった。 That gag totally bombed — nobody laughed.
2. 滑るの怖くて人前でボケられない。 I'm too scared of bombing to crack jokes in front of people.
3. パパのダジャレがまた滑った。 Dad's pun flopped again.

Usage Guide

Context: friends, comedy discussion, casual conversation

Tone: critical, sympathetic

Do Say

• 昨日の合コンでギャグ言ったら盛大に滑った。 (I told a joke at the mixer yesterday and it totally bombed.)
• 滑っても気にしないメンタルが大事。 (Having the mental strength to not care about bombing is important.)

Don't Say

• 本人に直接「滑ったね」は傷つけることも (Telling someone directly 'you bombed' can be hurtful — use a softer expression)

Common Mistakes

• Using 滑る only for comedy — it can also describe any failed attempt at being cool or impressive
• Confusing with the literal meaning of slipping on a surface — context usually makes the comedy meaning clear

Origin & History

From the literal meaning of 滑る (to slip/slide), metaphorically applied to comedy where a joke 'slides' past the audience without getting a laugh. Long established in Japanese comedy culture, widely used since at least the 1990s.

Cultural Context

Era: 1990s+ comedy culture, mainstream

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal

Regional notes: Used across Japan. A fundamental concept in Japanese comedy culture, understood by everyone.