slap

¹

[slap]

noun

1. a sharp blow or smack, especially with the open hand or with something flat.

2. a sound made by or as if by such a blow or smack.

   the slap of the waves against the dock.

3. a sharply worded or sarcastic rebuke or comment.

verb (used with object)

slapped, slapping 

1. to strike sharply, especially with the open hand or with something flat.

2. to bring (the hand, something flat, etc.) with a sharp blow against something.

3. to dash or cast forcibly.

   He slapped the package against the wall.

4. to put or place promptly and sometimes haphazardly (often followed byon ).

   The officer slapped a ticket on the car. He slapped mustard on the sandwich.

adverb

1. Informal.,  directly; straight; smack.

   The tug rammed slap into the side of the freighter.

verb phrase

1. slap down

   1. to subdue, especially by a blow or by force; suppress.

   2. to reject, oppose, or criticize sharply.

      to slap down dissenting voices.

slap

²

[slap]

noun

1. a gap or opening, as in a fence, wall, cloud bank, or line of troops.

2. a mountain pass.

3. a wound or gash.

verb (used with object)

slapped, slapping 

1. to make a gap or opening in; breach.

slap

/ slæp /

noun

1. a sharp blow or smack, as with the open hand, something flat, etc

2. the sound made by or as if by such a blow

3. a sharp rebuke; reprimand

4. informal,  sexual play

5. an insult or rebuff

6. congratulation

7. a light punishment or reprimand

verb

1. (tr) to strike (a person or thing) sharply, as with the open hand or something flat

2. (tr) to bring down (the hand, something flat, etc) sharply

3. to strike (something) with or as if with a slap

4. informal,  (tr) to apply in large quantities, haphazardly, etc

   she slapped butter on the bread

5. to congratulate

adverb

1. exactly; directly

   slap on time

2. forcibly or abruptly

   to fall slap on the floor

Other Word Forms

• slapper noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of slap¹

First recorded in 1625–35; from Low German slapp(e); of expressive origin

Origin of slap²

First recorded in 1400–50; Middle English slop(e) “inroad made into enemy ranks,” from Middle Dutch or Middle Low German; cognate with German Schlupf “hiding place”

Word History and Origins

Origin of slap¹

C17: from Low German slapp, German Schlappe, of imitative origin

Idioms and Phrases

Idioms

1. slap on the wrist, relatively mild criticism or censure.

   He got away with a slap on the wrist.

Synonym Study

See blow ¹.

Example Sentences

“I think you need to eat something,” she said, slapping the bowl onto a place mat, and she was right.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Over grungy guitars and a slapping drum beat, Taylor taunts them with a touch of reverse psychology.

Read more on BBC

He then struck a cleaner in the arm, threw a banana at him and slapped another resident in the hotel lobby.

Read more on BBC

Within the first hour, he’s slapped around a few times, tossed into a trunk and nearly murdered.

Read more on Salon

Immigration and Customs Enforcement is aggressively wooing recruits with experience slapping handcuffs on suspects: sheriff’s deputies, state troopers and local cops.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• blip 
• blow 
• pat 
• punch 
• whack