fiasco
a complete failure
debacle
a sudden and/or shameful failure
flop
(of a performer or show) completely unsuccessful; to fail totally
A flash in the pan
brief success; a thing or person whose sudden but brief success is not repeated or repeatable
A feather in one’s cap
an achievement to be proud of
fickle
likely to change for no reason; inconstant
capricious
(of a person) subject to sudden changes in mood
mercurial
(of a person) unpredictable changes of mood or mind
erratic
unpredictable, not regular
fitful
occurring spasmodically or intermittently; not regular or steady
volatile
liable to change rapidly and unpredictably
steadfast
dutifully firm and unwavering
immutable
unchanging over time or unable to be changed
filch
to steal slyly, especially small things
pilfer
steal (usually things of little value)
purloin
to steal
finesse
a. skill, delicacy, or subtlety in doing something or handling a situation
b. to accomplish by subtle or skillful manuevering
dexterity
skill in performing tasks (especially with hands)
facility
ability to do or learn something well and easily; brandon lu
savvy
the ability to make good judgments
finagle
to obtain something through dishonest means
contrive
create or bring about (an object or a situation) with ingenuity; scheming
flagrant
stands out extremely
egregious
outstandingly bad; shocking
brazen
bold with no shame
caught red-handed
caught in the act
flaunt
to show off in a obvious or offensive way
parade
a public and arrogant display
flout
to treat openly with scorn, contempt, or disregard
scoff at
speak about it in a way that shows you think it is ridiculous or inadequate
deride
express contempt for; ridicule
disparage
regard or represent as being of little worth
venerate
regard with great respect; revere
esteem
respect and admiration, typically for a person
fluctuate
to change continually from one position to another
vacillate
alternate or waver between different opinions or actions; be indecisive
oscillate
move or swing back and forth at a regular speed
foible
a minor flaw in character or behavior; weakness
frailty
condition of being weak and delicate
idiosyncrasy
a strange behavior and/or way of thinking peculiar to an individual
eccentricity
quality of being odd/peculiar
forestall
to gain an advantage or prevent a loss by taking action ahead of time
preclude
prevent from happening; make impossible
obviate
remove (a need or difficulty)
stave off
avoid or delay something bad or dangerous
nip in the bud
to stop (something) at an early stage
formidable
a. arousing fear or admiration because of size or superiority of the thing involved
b. difficult to do because of the size of the job involved
awesome
extremely impressive; inspiring
redoubtable
(of a person) formidable, especially as an opponent
paltry
(of an amount) small or meager
fortuitous
happening by accident or chance (can be bad, good, or neutral)
inadvertent
happening by chance
a windfall
unexpected good fortune, typically receiving a large amount of money
frugal
sparing or economical with regard to money or food; stingy
parsimonious
unwilling to spend money or use resources; stingy
penurious
extremely poor; poverty-stricken
tightfisted
not willing to spend or give much money; stingy
penny-pinching
unwilling to spend or share money
prodigal
spending money or resources freely and recklessly; wasteful
fulsome
insincerely complimentary or flattering to an excessive degree
inordinate
disproportionately large; excessive
immoderate
not sensible or restrained; excessive
odious
extremely unpleasant; repulsive
crass
stupid, dull, doesn’t show care for others’ feelings
futile
incapable of producing the desired result; ineffective
fruitless
failing to achieve the desired results
idle
(of a person) avoiding work; lazy
Prefix: FORE
before, earlier, in advance
Root: FLU or FLUCT
flow
imbroglio
an confusing, complicated, or embarrassing situation
sotto voce
in a quiet voice, as if not to be overheard
vendetta
a blood feud in which the family of a murdered person seeks vengeance on the murderer or the murderer's family
prima donna
temperamental person with an inflated view of their own talent or importance
libretto
the text of an opera or other long vocal work
incognito
(of a person) having one's true identity concealed
virtuoso
a person highly skilled in music or another artistic pursuit
pinch-hit for
act as a substitute for someone
put on a full-court press
an all-out effort to exert pressure
par for the course
the expected outcome; what’s normal and expected
a Monday morning quarterback
a person who unfairly criticizes the actions of other people after something has happened
stymied
an obstacle; to stand in the way of
a stalemate
a tie
a front-runner
the contestant that is leading in a race or other competition
showboating
showing off
start out with two strikes against you
to be one mistake, error, or wrongdoing away from total failure