slap1
[slap]
- a sharp blow or smack, especially with the open hand or with something flat.
- a sound made by or as if by such a blow or smack: the slap of the waves against the dock.
- a sharply worded or sarcastic rebuke or comment.
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- to strike sharply, especially with the open hand or with something flat.
- to bring (the hand, something flat, etc.) with a sharp blow against something.
- to dash or cast forcibly: He slapped the package against the wall.
- to put or place promptly and sometimes haphazardly (often followed by on): The officer slapped a ticket on the car. He slapped mustard on the sandwich.
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- Informal. directly; straight; smack: The tug rammed slap into the side of the freighter.
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- slap down,
- to subdue, especially by a blow or by force; suppress.
- to reject, oppose, or criticize sharply: to slap down dissenting voices.
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- slap on the wrist, relatively mild criticism or censure: He got away with a slap on the wrist.
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Origin of slap1
First recorded in 1625–35, slap is from the Low German word slapp, slappe; of expressive orig.
Synonym study
1. See blow1.
slap2
[slap]Scot.
- a gap or opening, as in a fence, wall, cloud bank, or line of troops.
- a mountain pass.
- a wound or gash.
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- to make a gap or opening in; breach.
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Origin of slap2
1325–75; Middle English slop < Middle Dutch or Middle Low German; cognate with German Schlupf hiding place
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018
Examples from the Web for slap
Contemporary Examples
Up and down the plane I heard the slap of blinders yanked down over the windows while the rest of us eagerly took in the view.
The Life and Hard Times Of The Family A Cuban Defector Left BehindBrin-Jonathan Butler
December 19, 2014
“Now get on your knees and crawl,” he demanded with the slap of a leather horse crop against the palm of his hand.
While that might just seem like a slap on the wrist compared to the cost of insurance, the penalty increases every year.
Queen Raina of Jordan also spoke, calling the refugee crisis in Syria “a slap in the face of humanity.”
Sometimes a great movie line has the impact of a slap in the face.
Historical Examples
She leaned forward in the chair she had taken, and pretended to slap his hand crossly.
Alice AdamsBooth Tarkington
Not one among them dares to give the philistines a slap in the face.
His MasterpieceEmile Zola
This slap at the professors delighted the young man's friends.
His MasterpieceEmile Zola
When they were alone Mignon scorned to slap him at every turn.
Some said that she was still crazy about him and he had to slap her to make her leave him alone.
L'AssommoirEmile Zola
slap
- a sharp blow or smack, as with the open hand, something flat, etc
- the sound made by or as if by such a blow
- a sharp rebuke; reprimand
- a bit of slap and tickle or slap and tickle British informal sexual play
- a slap in the face an insult or rebuff
- a slap on the back congratulation
- a slap on the wrist a light punishment or reprimand
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- (tr) to strike (a person or thing) sharply, as with the open hand or something flat
- (tr) to bring down (the hand, something flat, etc) sharply
- (when intr, usually foll by against) to strike (something) with or as if with a slap
- (tr) informal, mainly British to apply in large quantities, haphazardly, etcshe slapped butter on the bread
- slap on the back to congratulate
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- exactly; directlyslap on time
- forcibly or abruptlyto fall slap on the floor
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Word Origin
C17: from Low German slapp, German Schlappe, of imitative origin
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
© William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
Word Origin and History for slap
v.
late 15c., "strike with the open hand," from slap (n.). As an adverb, 1670s, "suddenly;" 1829, "directly." Related: Slapped; slapping.
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n.
mid-15c., probably of imitative origin, similar to Low German slappe, German Schlappe. Figurative meaning "insult, reprimand" is attested from 1736. Slap-happy (1936) originally meant "punch-drunk." Slap on the wrist "very mild punishment" dates from 1914.
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Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper