flip-flop
- Informal. a sudden or unexpected reversal, as of direction, belief, attitude, or policy.
- a backward somersault.
- Also called flip-flop circuit. Electronics. an electronic circuit having two stable conditions, each one corresponding to one of two alternative input signals.
- any of several similar devices having two alternative states, the change of state being caused by some input signal or by some change of input.
- the sound and motion of something flapping, as a wind-blown shutter; a banging to and fro.
- any backless, usually open-toed flat shoe or slipper.
- a flat, backless rubber sandal, usually secured on the foot by a thong between the first two toes, as for use at a beach, swimming pool, etc.Compare thong, zori.
- (in advertising) a display or presentation, usually on an easel, consisting of a series of pages hinged at the top and flipped over in sequence.
- with repeated sounds and motions, as of something flapping.
- Informal. to make a sudden or unexpected reversal, as of direction, belief, attitude, or policy: The opposition claimed that the president had flip-flopped on certain issues.
- to execute a backward somersault.
- to flap; bang to and fro: The door flip-flopped in the high wind.
Origin of flip-flop
Related Words for flip-flop
about-face, turnabout, reversal, U-turn, changeover, switch, turnaround, change, switchoverExamples from the Web for flip-flop
Contemporary Examples of flip-flop
Everyone dressed appropriately and even impeccably—not a flip-flop in sight.
Even Mitt Romney waited more than two years to flip-flop on key issues.
‘Bridgegate’ Won’t Be the End of Christie 2016, but the DREAM Act Could BeDean Obeidallah
January 8, 2014
Earnest attempts at spin aside, the facts lead directly to accusations of a flip-flop.
The press would blow the whistle on this naked opportunism, and the flip-flop police would beat him senseless.
The New Era of Evolution Helps Pols Switch Stance on Issues from Gay Marriage to ImmigrationHoward Kurtz
April 3, 2013
For Leibler, there is more at stake in the last minute flip-flop than a single U.N. resolution.
Historical Examples of flip-flop
That fellow certainly turned a flip-flop, when he found out who we were.
The Boy Aviators in AfricaWilbur Lawton
The flip-flop of the fish sounded distinctly in that quiet place.
Poor Man's RockBertrand W. Sinclair
"Nothing," she said, making a flip-flop into the thistles and dancing among them without feeling their sharp points.
The Lost Princess of OzL. Frank Baum
Dan broke off and almost retched as his stomach turned a flip-flop to end all flip-flops.
Shipwreck in the SkyEando Binder
At first he couldn't stand up on his head at all, just turning over in a sort of flip-flop every time he tried.
Uncle Wiggily in WonderlandHoward R. Garis
flip-flop
- a backward handspring
- Also called: bistable an electronic device or circuit that can assume either of two stable states by the application of a suitable pulse
- informal, mainly US a complete change of opinion, policy, etc
- a repeated flapping or banging noise
- Also called (US, Canadian, Austral, and NZ): thong a rubber-soled sandal attached to the foot by a thong between the big toe and the next toe
- informal, mainly US to make a complete change of opinion, policy, etc
- to move with repeated flaps
- with repeated flappingsto go flip-flop
Word Origin for flip-flop
Word Origin and History for flip-flop
also flip flop, "thong sandal," by 1972, imitative of the sound of walking in them (flip-flap had been used in various echoic senses, mostly echoic, since 1520s); sense of "complete reversal of direction" dates from 1900.
Flip-flaps, a peculiar rollicking dance indulged in by costermongers, better described as the double shuffle; originally a kind of somersault. [Hotten's Slang Dictionary, 1864]