To loaf or evade duty; also, to bungle or botch. This term dates from the first half of the 1900s and became widely current during World War II. Early on it also was slang for male masturbation, but that sense has not survived. John Hersey used it in G.I. Laughs (1943), “Wanders from barracks to barracks . . . generally flubbing his dub.” And D. Stagg (in Glory Jumpers (1959), “The Air Corps flubbed the dub again and scattered the drop.”
Related & Similar Terms:
- Goof off - To waste time and avoid work.
- Slack off - To reduce one’s level of effort or performance; to loaf or shirk duty.
- Drop the ball - To make a mistake or fail to do something important.
- Fumble - Use hands clumsily while doing or handling something.
- Mess up - To ruin or spoil something.
Inspirational & Humorous Quotes:
- “Life is a series of flubs and dubs; it’s how we pick up the pieces that defines us.” — Phil O’Sopher
- “If at first you don’t succeed, flub the dub and blame it on Monday blues.” — Unknown Joker
Proverbs & Common Phrases:
- “When the going gets tough, the tough flub the dub.”
- “A stitch in time saves nine—unless you flub the dub.”
Suggested Literature & Media:
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Books: Catch-22 by Joseph Heller – A satirical novel where characters frequently flub their dubs. G.I. Laughs by John Hersey – Depicts humorous military bungling.
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Movies: MASH (1970)* – A dramedy involving military personnel evading duty and bungling operations. Stripes (1981) – Military comedy where characters often flub the dub.
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Songs: “Whistle While You Work” – Sparrow Song – because sometimes you just gotta make flubbing sound fun!
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Poetry: “Jabberwocky” by Lewis Carroll – For its playful, nonsensical use of language, much like flubbing one’s dub.
Farewell, dear reader! May you navigate life’s flubs and dubs with humor and grace. Keep laughing through the bungles, for they are the stitches in the fabric of our wonderfully imperfect lives.
With words from your wandering wordsmith, Phil O’Sopher.
