dud
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unexploded ordnance
A bomb, grenade, or other explosive device that did not explode as intended after being dropped or fired.
Die Baustelle musste evakuiert werden, nachdem ein Blindgänger aus dem Zweiten Weltkrieg gefunden wurde.
The construction site had to be evacuated after unexploded ordnance from the Second World War was found.
The word is made up of 'blind' and 'Gänger' (from 'gehen', to go). Here, 'blind' means 'not functioning.' A 'Blindgänger' is therefore literally something that 'goes' (e.g., flies) but 'blindly' misses its target, meaning it does not work.
Die Granate war zum Glück ein Blindgänger.
Luckily, the grenade was a dud.
You can recognize the literal meaning (m01) from words like 'Bombe' (bomb), 'Krieg' (war), 'Baustelle' (construction site), or 'entschärfen' (to defuse). The figurative meanings (m02, m03) colloquially refer to people, projects, or ideas that fail.
Bei den Bauarbeiten wurde ein alter Blindgänger entdeckt.
An old unexploded bomb was discovered during the construction work.
When a person is called a 'Blindgänger' (dud), it is very colloquial and a strong insult. It means that the person is considered completely incompetent or useless.
Nenn deinen Kollegen nicht Blindgänger, das ist wirklich verletzend.
Don't call your colleague a dud; that's really hurtful.
In connection with unexploded bombs, the verbs 'finden' (to find), 'bergen' (to recover), 'entschärfen' (to defuse), or 'sprengen' (to detonate) are often used.
Ein Spezialteam muss den Blindgänger entschärfen.
A specialist team has to defuse the unexploded ordnance.
For the figurative meaning, the phrases 'sich als Blindgänger erweisen' (to prove to be a dud) or 'sich als Blindgänger entpuppen' (to turn out to be a dud) are very typical. They express that someone or something later turns out to be a failure.
Der hochgelobte Neuzugang hat sich leider als Blindgänger erwiesen.
Unfortunately, the highly praised new signing proved to be a dud.
bankruptcy / flop
'die Pleite' and 'der Blindgänger' can both colloquially mean that something has gone completely wrong. 'Pleite' fits especially well when a plan, an evening, or an attempt ends disappointingly. The word can also mean financial bankruptcy, but in this relation it is about failure. 'Blindgänger' sounds stronger and often more negative: an idea, product, or project was useless or did not work at all. The words can be confused because both describe a flop. As a simple guide: 'Pleite' is the failed outcome, while 'Blindgänger' is more the failed thing itself.
Die neue Werbeidee war ein Blindgänger und brachte keinen einzigen Kunden.
The new advertising idea was a flop and did not bring in a single customer.
Der Ausflug war eine echte Pleite, weil der Bus nicht kam und es den ganzen Tag regnete.
The trip was a real disaster because the bus did not come and it rained all day.