bomb on stage

Meaning

This casual expression means to fail miserably during a live performance, presentation, or comedy set. It usually implies that the audience did not laugh, applaud, or show any interest, resulting in an embarrassing situation.

Examples

• The comedian was so nervous that he completely bombed on stage.

  The comedian was so nervous that he completely bombed on stage.

• I forgot my lines and ended up bombing on stage during the opening night.

  I forgot my lines and ended up bombing on stage during the opening night.

• Nobody laughed at his jokes, and he felt what it was like to bomb on stage.

  Nobody laughed at his jokes, and he felt what it was like to bomb on stage.

• Even famous actors sometimes bomb on stage early in their careers.

  Even famous actors sometimes bomb on stage early in their careers.

• She was terrified of bombing on stage, but her performance actually went well.

  She was terrified of bombing on stage, but her performance actually went well.

Common Mistakes

• ✗ The play exploded on stage because the actors forgot their lines.

  ✓ The play bombed on stage because the actors forgot their lines.

  While 'explode' sounds related to 'bomb', in theatrical slang, only 'bomb' means to fail. 'Explode' is not used this way.

• ✗ I felt bad when he was bombing the stage.

  ✓ I felt bad when he was bombing on stage.

  The preposition 'on' is required to specify where the failure occurred (on the stage).

Related Expressions

Practice

• No performer wants to ___ during their very first live show.

  💡 To fail completely in front of a live audience.

  Show answer

  bomb on stage

• He didn't practice his stand-up set at all, so he is likely to ___ tonight.

  💡 Perform terribly and get no laughs.

  Show answer

  bomb on stage