flip
/flɪp/ noun, verb, interjection, adjective, proper noun
Forms flips flipping flipped flipper flippest
- noun A maneuver which rotates an object end over end. “We'll decide this on a flip of a coin.”
- noun A complete change of direction, decision, movement etc.
- noun (archaic) A fillip or light blow.
- noun (dated) A whit or jot; the tiniest amount. “I don't care a flip for what he says.”
- noun A short flight.
- noun (US, slang) A slingshot.
- noun A hairstyle popular among boys in the 1960s–70s and 2000s–10s, in which the hair goes halfway down the ears, at which point it sticks out “Justin Bieber and Zac Efron are among the celebrities who wore a flip.”
- noun (informal) The purchase of an asset (usually a house) which is then improved and sold quickly for profit.
- verb (transitive) To throw so as to turn over. “You need to flip the pancake onto the other side.”
- verb (transitive) To put into a quick revolving motion through a snap of the thumb and index finger. “If you can't decide which option to go for, flip a coin.”
- verb (transitive, US politics) To win a state (or county) won by another party in the preceding elections. “Wisconsin had been Democratic for decades, but the Republicans flipped it in 2016.”
- verb (intransitive, US) To turn state's evidence; to agree to testify against one's co-conspirators in exchange for concessions from prosecutors. “The mafioso flipped on his superiors to get a lighter sentence.”
- verb (transitive, US) To induce someone to turn state's evidence; to get someone to agree to testify against their co-conspirators in exchange for concessions. “The district attorney was able to strengthen his case against the bank robber by flipping the getaway driver.”
- verb (intransitive, slang) To go berserk or crazy; to get extremely angry. “I'd flip if anyone broke my phone.”
- verb (intransitive, slang) To go berserk or crazy; to be extremely thrilled or enthusiastic.
- verb (transitive, finance, slang) To purchase and resell assets (often real estate or artworks) for immediate short-term profit. “Those companies have been flipping houses in the real estate market for years.”
- interjection (UK, euphemistic, colloquial) Used to express annoyance, especially when the speaker has made an error. “What the flip just happened?”
- adjective (UK, informal) Having the quality of playfulness, or lacking seriousness of purpose. “I hate to be flip, but perhaps we could steal a Christmas tree.”
- adjective Sarcastic.
- adjective (informal) Disrespectful, flippant. “Don't get flip with me or I'll knock you into next Tuesday!”
Synonyms
inversion swap flick bit ace atom thought atomy aught bissel continental crumb glimpse dab damn dash diddly glint dot spatter somersault somerset summersault summerset somersaulting toss pass throw switch thumb
Etymology
Alteration of earlier fillip, from Middle English filippen (“to make a signal or sound with thumb and right forefinger, snap the fingers”), an attenuated variation of flappen (“to flap, clap, slap, strike”). Cognate with Dutch flappen (“to flap”), German flappen (“to flap”).
Non-vulgar euphemism for fuck.
Clipping of flippant.
Compare English dialect flip (“nimble, flippant, also, a slight blow”).
Webster’s 1913
- noun A mixture of beer, spirit, etc., stirred and heated by a hot iron. Flip dog, an iron used, when heated, to warm flip.
- verb To toss or fillip; as, to flip up a cent.
Etymology [Cf. Prov. E. flip nimble, flippant, also, a slight blow. Cf. Flippant.]
Sources: Wiktionary · WordNet 3.0 · Webster’s 1913 — from the Wiktionary entry “flip”, CC BY-SA 4.0. Details