slap

[slap]

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR slap ON THESAURUS.COM

noun

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.

verb (used with object), slapped, slap·ping.

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.

adverb

Informal. directly; straight; smack: The tug rammed slap into the side of the freighter.

Verb Phrases

slap down,

to subdue, especially by a blow or by force; suppress.
to reject, oppose, or criticize sharply: to slap down dissenting voices.

Idioms

slap on the wrist, relatively mild criticism or censure: He got away with a slap on the wrist.

Origin of slap

First recorded in 1625–35, slap is from the Low German word slapp, slappe; of expressive orig.

Related formsslap·per, noun

Synonym study

1. See blow¹.

slap

[slap]Scot.

noun

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

a mountain pass.

a wound or gash.

verb (used with object), slapped, slap·ping.

to make a gap or opening in; breach.

Origin of slap

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. 2019

Related Words for slap

blow, blip, pat, punch, whack, box, poke, spank, crack, sock, bang, clout, chop, swat, smack, slam, cuff, buffet, wallop, strike

Examples from the Web for slap

Contemporary Examples of slap

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 Behind
Brin-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.
Whip It: Secrets of a Dominatrix
Justin Jones
November 25, 2014
While that might just seem like a slap on the wrist compared to the cost of insurance, the penalty increases every year.
Think You’re Invincible? Here’s Why Open Enrollment Matters
DailyBurn
November 16, 2014
Queen Raina of Jordan also spoke, calling the refugee crisis in Syria “a slap in the face of humanity.”
Ebola and America’s Childish Narcissism
Michael Tomasky
October 18, 2014
Sometimes a great movie line has the impact of a slap in the face.
What Was Bogey Thinking When He Said ‘Here’s Looking At You, Kid’?
Lewis Beale
September 27, 2014

Historical Examples of slap

She leaned forward in the chair she had taken, and pretended to slap his hand crossly.
Alice Adams
Booth Tarkington
Not one among them dares to give the philistines a slap in the face.
His Masterpiece
Emile Zola
This slap at the professors delighted the young man's friends.
His Masterpiece
Emile Zola
Some said that she was still crazy about him and he had to slap her to make her leave him alone.
L'Assommoir
Emile Zola
When they were alone Mignon scorned to slap him at every turn.
Nana, The Miller's Daughter, Captain Burle, Death of Olivier Becaille
Emile Zola

British Dictionary definitions for slap

slap

noun

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

verb slaps, slapping or slapped

(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

adverb informal

exactly; directlyslap on time

forcibly or abruptlyto fall slap on the floor

Derived Formsslapper, noun

Word Origin for slap

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

late 15c., "strike with the open hand," from slap (n.). As an adverb, 1670s, "suddenly;" 1829, "directly." Related: Slapped; slapping.

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.