The phrase ‘fall flat’ means to fail to produce the effect that somebody wants or to have no impact or success.
It is often used when an idea, joke, plan, or performance does not achieve the intended result or fails to impress the audience.
For example:
• His joke fell flat because nobody laughed.
• The new advertising campaign fell flat and didn’t attract any customers.
In essence, when something “falls flat,” it means it does not create the expected reaction or desired outcome. It represents failure in effectiveness, excitement, or influence.
Therefore, the phrase ‘fall flat’ means to fail to produce the effect that somebody wants.
Final Answer: to fail to produce the effect that somebody wants