tank

Slang Term AmericanBritishAustralian Unknown very informal

Meaning: fail completely

彻底失败,大败
Fracasar estrepitosamente, hundirse.
大失敗する、大コケする
완전히 실패하다, 대실패하다

To fail badly, especially in business or entertainment. A movie 'tanks' when it performs terribly at the box office.

惨败,尤其在商业或娱乐领域。电影在票房上惨败时常用这个词。
Fracasar de forma notable, especialmente en los negocios o el entretenimiento. Una película 'tanks' cuando le va fatal en taquilla.
特にビジネスやエンターテインメントでひどく失敗すること。映画が興行的に大コケするときに使う。
특히 비즈니스나 엔터테인먼트에서 크게 실패하는 것. 영화가 흥행에서 참패하는 것을 'tank'라고 한다.

Examples

  1. The sequel absolutely tanked at the box office.
    续集在票房上彻底扑街了。
    La secuela fue un fracaso total en taquilla.
    続編は興行収入で完全に大コケした。
    속편은 흥행에서 완전히 망했다.
  2. Their stock price tanked after the scandal.
    丑闻之后,他们的股价暴跌。
    El precio de sus acciones se desplomó tras el escándalo.
    スキャンダル後、株価が暴落した。
    스캔들 이후 주가가 폭락했다.
  3. My presentation totally tanked - I forgot half of it.
    我的演示完全搞砸了——忘了一半内容。
    Mi presentación fue un desastre total; olvidé la mitad.
    プレゼンは大失敗だった。半分忘れてしまった。
    프레젠테이션이 완전히 망했다. 절반을 까먹었다.

Pronunciation

Usage Guide

Context: casual, business, entertainment

Tone: blunt

✓ Do Say

  • Describe dramatic failures
    描述戏剧性的失败
    describir fracasos estrepitosos
    劇的な失敗を表す
    극적인 실패를 묘사할 때

✗ Don't Say

  • In formal contexts
    在正式场合不用
    En contextos formales
    フォーマルな場面では使わない
    격식 있는 상황에서

Origin & History

American slang from the 1970s, possibly from boxing slang 'take a dive' or from something sinking like a tank in water.

Cultural Context

Era: modern

Generation: younger to middle-aged

Social background: all

More From This Topic

Smash it ★★★★★ To succeed brilliantly or perform excellently. Nail it ★★★★★ To do something perfectly or exactly right. Pull it off ★★★★★ To succeed in doing something difficult. Fall through ★★★★★ To fail to happen or be completed. Ace it ★★★★★ To do something extremely well, especially a test. Flop ★★★★★ A complete failure, especially of a performance or product.
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