flunk out

Definition

The informal but universally understood term for being dismissed from an institution due to poor academic performance. It's the outcome students fear and parents dread, carrying more emotional weight than the sanitized official language of 'academic dismissal.'

Example Usage

He was so focused on his startup that he flunked out after his second semester of straight Fs.

Origin

American slang from late 19th/early 20th century, 'flunk' possibly derived from 'flinch' or 'funk' (to be afraid).

Fun Fact

Approximately 30% of college freshmen don't return for sophomore year, though not all 'flunk out'—many leave for financial or personal reasons but the term gets applied broadly.

Source: Student culture slang

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