flip
1to toss or put in motion with a sudden impulse, as with a snap of a finger and thumb, especially so as to cause to turn over in the air: to flip a coin.
to move (something) suddenly or jerkily.
to turn over, especially with a short rapid gesture: to flip pancakes with a spatula.
to cause to switch from one political party or candidate to another: Republicans flipped the Senate and increased their majority in the House.
Slang.
to provide incriminating evidence about (an associate or accomplice); inform on: I only work with people I know won’t flip me.
to turn into an informer: The prosecutor will try to flip the defendant in exchange for a reduced sentence.
to buy and sell (real estate or another asset) for a quick profit: The buyer flipped the house for double what he paid for it, just nine months after renovations were completed.
to change (an opinion, stance, or way of thinking): Federal courts had ruled the practice unconstitutional, but an appeals judge flipped the decision.
Slang. to make (someone) insane, irrational, angry, or highly excited (usually followed by out).
Finance. to resell, especially quickly, or to refinance, as a mortgage loan.
to make a flicking movement; strike at something smartly or sharply; snap.
to move oneself with or as if with flippers: The seals flipped along the beach.
to move with a jerk or jerks.
to turn over or perform a somersault in the air.
to switch from one political party or candidate to another: Formerly Democratic, our state has flipped to become red. Last November, most state legislatures saw fewer than five seats flip one way or the other.
Slang to provide incriminating evidence about an associate or accomplice; inform on: They wanted me to flip on the guy who sold me the drugs.
to change one’s opinion, stance, or way of thinking:The CEO has been accused of flipping on the issue of employee vacation time.
to shift from one state, position, etc., to another: My mood seems to flip 180 degrees without any obvious triggers.
Slang.
to react to something in an excited, astonished, or delighted manner: He really flipped over his new girlfriend.
to become insane, irrational, angry, or highly excited (often followed by out).
an instance of flipping; a smart tap or strike.
a sudden jerk.
a somersault, especially one performed in the air: a back flip off the diving board.
Cards. a variety of seven-card stud in which each player receives the first four cards facedown and selects two of them to expose before receiving the next card.
Slang. flip side.
Idioms about flip
flip one's lid / wig, Slang. lid (def. 8).
flip (someone) the bird, Slang. give (someone) the finger.
Origin of flip
1Words Nearby flip
Other definitions for flip (2 of 3)
a mixed drink made with liquor or wine, sugar, and egg, topped with powdered nutmeg and served hot or cold.
a drink, popular especially in the 18th century, made with beer or ale mixed with rum or other liquor, sweetened and served hot.
Origin of flip
2How to use flip in a sentence
The seat is considered among the most likely to flip this year.
Election live updates: Trump returns to Wisconsin; Biden to face live audience at town hall | Colby Itkowitz, Felicia Sonmez, John Wagner | September 17, 2020 | Washington PostThis stability is invaluable, as traveling rough side-hills is an easy way to flip your machine.
Six ways to make your ATV even more rugged | By Tyler Freel/Outdoor Life | September 17, 2020 | Popular-ScienceRecent research shows that the Arctic peatlands will flip from being carbon sinks to carbon sources as the region heats up further.
What wildfires in Brazil, Siberia, and the US West have in common | Lili Pike | September 17, 2020 | VoxIt went nowhere in a Republican-controlled Senate, but that could change if the majority flips.
These “good” drawings are only a few flips away from accepting the edge without breaking planarity.
A New Algorithm for Graph Crossings, Hiding in Plain Sight | Stephanie DeMarco | September 15, 2020 | Quanta Magazine
In a neat line, his agent, beginning a bidding war, promised: “Michiko Kakutani will flip for this.”
What On Earth Is ‘The Affair’ About? Season One’s Baffling Finale | Tim Teeman | December 22, 2014 | THE DAILY BEASTWere you playing up or, on the flip side, shying away from portraying a romantic attraction?
Inside the Lifetime Whitney Houston Movie’s Lesbian Lover Storyline | Kevin Fallon | December 16, 2014 | THE DAILY BEASTThe answer is that you flip state legislatures, since in most places, state legislatures draw the congressional district lines.
With the freedom of doing that, we were able to do a non-human, flip-y thing.
‘No Regrets’: Peter Jackson Says Goodbye to Middle-Earth | Alex Suskind | December 4, 2014 | THE DAILY BEASTSo whatever college campuses are doing, they need to flip that script.
Nor could they forget the Sunday mornings when his reverence took his dose of egg-flip before church, in order to clear his voice.
Skipper Worse | Alexander Lange KiellandCaroline, unable decently to go away, gives her gown a sort of flip on one side, as if to produce a separation.
The Petty Troubles of Married Life, Complete | Honore de BalzacWith a deft twist and flip he tossed the open noose over his prisoner's upheld wrists and jerked it tight.
Blazed Trail Stories | Stewart Edward WhiteUp flies his rapier idly—she with a sudden flip tosses it higher still, and with a leap, by Gox!
Tales of Northumbria | Howard PeaseThen, with one quick flip of his wrist and a sudden spasmodic movement of his gullet, he downed it.
Unwise Child | Gordon Randall Garrett
British Dictionary definitions for flip
/ (flɪp) /
to throw (something light or small) carelessly or briskly; toss: he flipped me an envelope
to throw or flick (an object such as a coin) so that it turns or spins in the air
to propel by a sudden movement of the finger; flick: to flip a crumb across the room
(foll by through) to read or look at (a book, newspaper, etc) quickly, idly, or incompletely
(intr) (of small objects) to move or bounce jerkily
(intr) to make a snapping movement or noise with the finger and thumb
(intr) slang to fly into a rage or an emotional outburst (also in the phrases flip one's lid, flip one's top, flip out)
(intr) slang to become ecstatic or very excited: he flipped over the jazz group
a snap or tap, usually with the fingers
a rapid jerk
a somersault, esp one performed in the air, as in a dive, rather than from a standing position
same as nog 1 (def. 1)
informal impertinent, flippant, or pert
Origin of flip
1Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
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