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.
verb
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stumble -
Trip or momentarily lose one's balance; almost fall
Danny ran too fast and stumbled, spilling his coffee on the floor.
verb
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backfire -
To have the opposite effect of what was intended, usually producing a negative result.
At the company meeting, his attempt to lie backfired, and when the truth came out, he was very embarrassed.
noun
See verb
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slip -
A small mistake or accident, often due to carelessness.
After he commented about her weight, he apologized for the slip of the tongue that he wished he hadn't said,
verb
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squander -
To waste something, such as money or time, in a reckless and foolish manner
Many lottery winners end up squandering their fortune and returning to their life of poverty.
noun
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boondoggle -
Work or activity that is wasteful or pointless but gives the appearance of having value
When the funds dried up before the bridge could be finished, it turned into an expensive boondoggle that couldn't transport anybody.
verb
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overreach -
To go beyond what is proper, reasonable, or safe—especially in power or ambition; to stretch too far and fail as a result.
The company overreached by expanding too quickly and ended up in debt.
verb
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bungle -
To carry out a task clumsily or incompetently, leading to failure or an unsatisfactory outcome
The painter bungled his job when he misspelled the word on the road sign.
noun
See verb
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stumble -
An act of stumbling
Shane took a stumble when he tripped over a large rock on the sidewalk.
noun
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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.
noun
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liability -
Something that is likely to cause a problem.
Joe was going to choose Fred as his running mate, but then he realized that Fred's drinking problem would just make him a liability, so he chose someone else.
verb
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backfire -
When a plan fails, to have 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.
