diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index c9fe47a9a9..edd66d4bd5 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -342,8 +342,9 @@ If you fork the project on GitHub, you can run your fork's [build workflow](.git
                                     extractor plugins; postprocessor plugins can
                                     only be loaded from the default plugin
                                     directories
-    --flat-playlist                 Do not extract the videos of a playlist,
-                                    only list them
+    --flat-playlist                 Do not extract a playlist's URL result
+                                    entries; some entry metadata may be missing
+                                    and downloading may be bypassed
     --no-flat-playlist              Fully extract the videos of a playlist
                                     (default)
     --live-from-start               Download livestreams from the start.
diff --git a/yt_dlp/options.py b/yt_dlp/options.py
index 6c6a0b3f9d..930d9d4bef 100644
--- a/yt_dlp/options.py
+++ b/yt_dlp/options.py
@@ -419,7 +419,9 @@ def create_parser():
     general.add_option(
         '--flat-playlist',
         action='store_const', dest='extract_flat', const='in_playlist', default=False,
-        help='Do not extract the videos of a playlist, only list them')
+        help=(
+            'Do not extract a playlist\'s URL result entries; '
+            'some entry metadata may be missing and downloading may be bypassed'))
     general.add_option(
         '--no-flat-playlist',
         action='store_false', dest='extract_flat',