a busted flush

busted flush

1. Literally, a hand in poker consisting of four cards of the same suit and one that is different, i.e., one card short of a flush. I thought I'd finally win the hand, but when I drew the ace of spades, I was left with a busted flush.
2. A person, organization, or thing that at one time held great potential or influence but that ultimately ended up a failure. Jack left secondary school with great grades and a bright future, but he became addicted to drugs and turned out a busted flush. The company promised big returns to investors but turned out to be a busted flush.
See also: busted, flush
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.

a busted flush

someone or something that has not fulfilled expectations; a failure. US informal
In the game of poker, a busted flush is a sequence of cards of one suit that you fail to complete.
See also: busted, flush
Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary
See also:
  • give (one) (one's) head
  • give head
  • give somebody their head
  • give someone their head
  • drive (one) out of office
  • force (one) out of office
  • force out of office
  • cooking for one
  • 1FTR
  • (one) could use (something)
References in periodicals archive
On becoming the leader of the Brexiteers in the Commons, he has proved himself a busted flush. It would be rash to dismiss the ambition of Johnson.
Blowhard blows it; RECORD View
Green is a busted flush, stripped of authority, and May would probably have been better to sack him.
Green for go; VOICE OF THE
"Television is a busted flush. No sensible broadcaster wants to work in it, and I am no exception" - Entertainer Alan Partridge, aka Steve Coogan.
THEY SAY
CHRIS ASHTON proved he is not a busted flush with a hat-trick as Saracens took total control of Pool One in the Champions Cup with a 55-13 win over French side Oyonnax Ashton (above) last played for England in last summer's tour to New Zealand, but his three-timer made it five in three games.
Hot Ash is on fire; ROUND-UP
I just hope he's not viewed as a busted flush and gets another top-flight job.
HIGH-PRICE GAZ
'"The Gary Barlow song is a joke, they could hardly have picked a worse person - he is a busted flush in the public's mind.
Rapper's World Cup remix set to get nation stomping
But I can't agree with his assertion that defeats for Manchester City, Arsenal and Manchester United in Europe means the Premier League is a busted flush.
? ROY KEANE is always [...]
"The key for the Libyan resolution will be whether or not the close circle around Colonel Gaddafi realize there's no point in investing in him, he's a busted flush, he will sooner or later have to leave power," he said.
UK now admits Gaddafi will leave only when his 'inner circle' realizes he is a 'busted flush'
Now, that would really counter criticisms that the city is a busted flush after Capital of Culture has moved on.
'Live' Liver Bird; LETTERS to the EDITOR
IN TWO dramatic weeks Gordon Brown has gone from the clunking fist to a busted flush.
Letter: YOUR SHOUT - Brown made big mistake
I suspect that HIP inspectors, who can't use their training because Home Improvement Plans are a busted flush, are even now being camouflaged so that they can lurk, shrublike, near likely tipping sites.
Chancellor's little earner
He told the party faithful: 'The Conservative party is a busted flush, and it's a busted flush because the Liberal Democrats are seen to be the effective opponents and challengers to Labour at Westminster.'
Kennedy's Tory blast
When you have a busted flush, you throw in your hand and start again.
Laughing stock; Letters.
Shapps, David Cameron's mouthpiece, is a busted flush with zero credibility.
Shapps is Shameful
But the Serie A club's bosses deemed him a busted flush after he skipped their recent clash with Chievo to play in a poker tournament in Slovenia - where he won PS3,000 for a second-place finish.
Kop flop Riera has his chips