bomb
The word carries a sharp tension between physical devastation and social failure. When used literally, it evokes an image of sudden, violent expansion and total wreckage. It is a heavy, high-stakes term used in military or emergency contexts. In a social or professional context, the term shifts to describe a psychological collapse. To bomb a presentation or a joke is to experience a sudden, loud silence where success was expected, mirroring the shock of an explosion but resulting in a void of applause rather than physical debris.
Countable when referring to a physical explosive device. Uncountable when referring to the act of bombing as a military strategy.
Meanings
An explosive device designed to cause destruction.
"The army neutralized the bomb before it could detonate."
To fail miserably or spectacularly, especially in a performance.
"The comedian bombed during his first set at the club."