[with obj.]fail to reach the required standard in (an examination, test, or course of study) 通不过(考试、测验或课程);在(考试、测验或课程)中失败,不及格 I flunked biology in the tenth grade. 十年级时我生物不及格。 [no obj.]I didn't flunk but I didn't do too well. 我没有不及格,但考得不太好。 ■judge (an examination candidate) to have failed to reach the required standard 让(考生)不及格,使(考生)落选 ■[no obj.](flunk out)(of a student) leave or be dismissed from school or college as a result of failing to reach the required standard (学生因不及格)退学;被开除 he had flunked out of college. 他从大学退学了。
语源
early 19th cent. (in the general sense 'back down, fail utterly'; originally US): perhaps related to funk or to US flink 'be a coward', perhaps a variant of flinch