flip

• IPA^(key): /flɪp/

• Audio (US)

  (file)

• Rhymes: -ɪp

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 Middle English flappen (“to flap, clap, slap, strike”). Cognate with Dutch flappen (“to flap”), German flappen (“to flap”).

flip (plural flips)

1. A maneuver which rotates an object end over end.

   We'll decide this on a flip of a coin.

   The diver did a couple of flips before landing in the pool.

2. A complete change of direction, decision, movement etc.
3. (US, slang) A slingshot.
   • 1986, George Scarbrough, A summer ago (page 123)

     He loaded his flip and took careful aim at what he considered to be Emily's most vulnerable spot […]

4. A hairstyle popular among boys in the 1960's, 1970's, 2000's and 2010's, 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.

flip (third-person singular simple present flips, present participle flipping, simple past and past participle flipped)

1. (transitive) To throw (as in to turn over).

   You need to flip the pancake onto the other side.

   • 2011 September 16, Ben Dirs, “Rugby World Cup 2011: New Zealand 83-7 Japan”, in BBC Sport‎:

     However, the hosts hit back and hit back hard, first replacement hooker Andrew Hore sliding over, then Williams careering out of his own half and leaving several defenders for dead before flipping the ball to Nonu to finish off a scintillating move.

2. (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.

3. (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.

4. (intransitive, slang) To go berserk or crazy.

   I'd flip if anyone broke my phone.

5. (transitive, informal) To buy an asset (usually a house), improve it and sell it quickly for profit.
6. (transitive, computing) To invert a bit (binary digit), changing it from 0 to 1 or from 1 to 0.

• (to throw, to turn over): turn, turn over
• (to put into a quick revolving motion): toss

Apparently a euphemism for fuck.

flip

1. (Britain, euphemistic) used to express annoyance, especially when the speaker has made an error.
   • 1967, Peter Shaffer, Black comedy, including White lies: two plays

     Impossible. He's dining out and coming on here after. He can't be reached. / Oh, flip!

   • 2000, Susan McKay, Northern Protestants

     "Oh flip, don't come near this place," she said. It was dangerous. The Catholics had banners up on the Garvaghy Road saying, 'No Protestants here'.

• damn

Clipping of flippant

flip (comparative flipper, superlative flippest)

1. (Britain, informal) Having the quality of playfulness, or lacking seriousness of purpose.

   I hate to be flip, but perhaps we could steal a Christmas tree.

2. Sarcastic.
3. (informal) Disrespectful.

   Don't get flip with me or I'll knock you into next Tuesday!

• (disrespectful): see Thesaurus:cheeky

Compare English dialect flip (“nimble, flippant, also, a slight blow”).

flip

1. A mixture of beer, spirit, etc., stirred and heated by a hot iron (a flip dog).

• Audio

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flip

1. first-person singular present indicative of flippen
2. imperative of flippen

• IPA^(key): /flip/

• Audio

  (file)

flip m (plural flips)

1. a type of alcoholic punch from Normandy, composed of cider and calvados
2. (gymnastics) backflip

• “flip” in le Trésor de la langue française informatisé (The Digitized Treasury of the French Language).