Here are two the date to the days of the flintlock musket:
Flash in the pan-Using bad or not enough gunpowder would make a flash in the pan but not fire the musketball.
Going off halfcocked-the hammer on flintlocks had a half cocked and full cocked position. If you forgot to go from half to full cocked before pulling the trigger you would get a weak combustion that would only fire the ball a few feet.