slap

[ slap ]

/ slæp /

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.

Nearby words

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 ]

/ slæp /

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

Examples from the Web for 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|DAILY BEAST
“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|DAILY BEAST
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|DAILY BEAST
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|DAILY BEAST

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|DAILY BEAST
The first greeting of one amazon to the other is to slap her face.
The Adventures of Uncle Jeremiah and Family at the Great Fair|Charles McCellan Stevens (AKA 'Quondam')
Listen, babe, don't get high-hat with me or I'll slap you down.
Hooded Detective, Volume III No. 2, January, 1942|Various
None ever passed it without testing the material with its teeth or giving it a slap with its paw.
My Attainment of the Pole|Frederick A. Cook
While in this position he was suddenly aroused by a slap on the back.
The Cash Boy|Horatio Alger Jr.
Could it be that the slap I heard was from the other side, or had it been a free fight?
Phemie Frost's Experiences|Ann S. Stephens

British Dictionary definitions for slap

slap

/ (slæp) /

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

slap

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

slap

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.

slap

noun

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

adverb

Verb Phrases

RELATED CONTENT

RELATED WORDS

Nearby words

Idioms

Origin of slap

Synonym study

slap

noun

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

Origin of slap

Examples from the Web for slap

slap

noun

verb slaps, slapping or slapped

adverb informal

Word Origin for slap

slap

slap