flip

noun

1. 1

   A maneuver which rotates an object end over end.

   We'll decide this on a flip of a coin.

   The diver did a couple of flips before landing in the pool.

2. 2

   A complete change of direction, decision, movement etc.

3. 3

   archaicA fillip or light blow.

   […] who looked at Dean a moment, crossed over the stage to him, raised himself on his toes, dashed his own hat firmly down to his ears, and every one on the stage supposed Dean was about to receive a flip on the ear or nose.

4. 4

   datedA whit or jot; the tiniest amount.

   I don't care a flip for what he says.

5. 5

   A short flight.

   "While that was going on, we were getting organized. There were some fifty or sixty of us to begin with. I took flips in the helicopter, and when I saw signs of a group anywhere, I'd go down and issue a general invitation to come along."

6. 6

   slangA slingshot.

   He loaded his flip and took careful aim at what he considered to be Emily's most vulnerable spot […]

7. 7

   A hairstyle popular among boys in the 1960s–70s and 2000s–10s, in which the hair goes halfway down the ears, at which point it sticks out

   Justin Bieber and Zac Efron are among the celebrities who wore a flip.

8. 8

   informalThe purchase of an asset (usually a house) which is then improved and sold quickly for profit.

   What they bring to the table is hard-won brass-tacks knowledge from over fifteen years of personal investing as well as riding shotgun on over 1,000 flips with their clients.

9. 9

   The tendency of a gun's barrel to jerk about at the moment of firing.

   In the case of rifles flip is counteracted by the sighting of the weapons, and it is because of flip that the sights cannot be set so that the line of sight is exactly parallel to the axis of the bore.

   A small, lightweight round, such as a .22 LR, generates very manageable recoil and muzzle flip (how much the nose of the gun flips up when you fire it).

verb

1. 1

   To throw so as to turn over.

   You need to flip the pancake onto the other side.

   However, the hosts hit back and hit back hard, first replacement hooker Andrew Hore sliding over, then Williams careering out of his own half and leaving several defenders for dead before flipping the ball to Nonu to finish off a scintillating move.

   Crucially, our research suggests that space weather is able to flip a signal in either direction, turning a red signal green or a green signal red. The former is obviously much more significant from a safety perspective.

2. 2

   To put into a quick revolving motion through a snap of the thumb and index finger.

   If you can't decide which option to go for, flip a coin.

   Parkour – often referred to as freerunning – entails creatively moving through an urban environment: flipping, jumping and vaulting across various obstacles.

3. 3

   To win a state (or county) won by another party in the preceding elections.

   Wisconsin had been Democratic for decades, but the Republicans flipped it in 2016.

4. 4

   To turn state's evidence; to agree to testify against one's co-conspirators in exchange for concessions from prosecutors.

   The mafioso flipped on his superiors to get a lighter sentence.

5. 5

   To induce someone to turn state's evidence; to get someone to agree to testify against their co-conspirators in exchange for concessions.

   The district attorney was able to strengthen his case against the bank robber by flipping the getaway driver.

6. 6

   slangTo go berserk or crazy; to get extremely angry.

   I'd flip if anyone broke my phone.

   They're talkin' bout the night Santa went crazy The night St. Nicholas flipped Broke his back for some milk and cookies Sounds to me like he was tired of gettin' gypped

7. 7

   slangTo go berserk or crazy; to be extremely thrilled or enthusiastic.

   Heading home from a party, two hipsters, completely stoned, pause to snuggle on a park bench. A fire engine roars by, bells clanging, sirens screaming. The boy flips. “Solid, doll,” he murmurs, “they’re playing our song!”

   1964, Lou Sullivan, personal diary, quoted in 2019, Ellis Martin, Zach Ozma (editors), We Both Laughed In Pleasure I got a silver ring with a "B" on it for Beatles. I really flip for those excellent guys.

8. 8

   slangTo purchase and resell assets (often real estate or artworks) for immediate short-term profit.

   Those companies have been flipping houses in the real estate market for years.

   After the formal part of dealer interviews, often later over a glass of wine, tales would be told of how the dealer does cope with pricing decisions, how other dealers are thought to set prices, and the pricing problems that result when evil collectors flip new paintings at auction.

   Quick cash, flip that, now I got big cash. Sit back, sip yak with a next piff yat.

   Typically, the art world disdains “flipping” — when a collector buys a work and then immediately resells it at a profit.

9. 9

   slangTo refinance (a loan), accruing additional fees.

   The bill makes it illegal to encourage borrowers to repeatedly refinance, or "flip," a loan primarily to collect more fees.

   Some of our consumer protection offices are all too familiar with the abusive practice of "flipping" loans.

10. 10

    To invert a bit (binary digit), changing it from 0 to 1 or from 1 to 0.

11. 11

    informalTo hand over or pass along.

    "Flip me the details, and I'll have a sneaky beaky round for you."

12. 12

    informalTo switch to another task, etc.

    I flipped from the calendar app to the email app and logged in to view Cooper's. The unreads were staggering; I'd have to triage them later.

13. 13

    To put on a (facial expression).

    I knew he was kidding because he flipped a grin at me.

14. 14

    To flap.

    Rising above it all, an American flag flipped in the breeze.

interjection

1. 1

   Used to express annoyance, especially when the speaker has made an error.

   What the flip just happened?

   Impossible. He's dining out and coming on here after. He can't be reached. / Oh, flip!

   "Oh flip, don't come near this place," she said. It was dangerous. The Catholics had banners up on the Garvaghy Road saying, 'No Protestants here'.

adjective

1. 1

   informalHaving the quality of playfulness, or lacking seriousness of purpose.

   I hate to be flip, but perhaps we could steal a Christmas tree.

2. 2

   Sarcastic.

3. 3

   informalDisrespectful, flippant.

   Don't get flip with me or I'll knock you into next Tuesday!

noun

1. 1

   A mixture of beer, spirit, etc., stirred and heated by a hot iron (a “flip dog”).

   [H]e had provided vast quantities of strong beer, flip, rumbo, and burnt brandy, with plenty of Barbadoes water for the ladies […].

   I frequently took of large potations, though not of champagne certainly, but port, strong ales, and punch, and when our funds were low as sometimes happened, hot flip […] .

   Adding a whole egg to alcoholic drinks goes back centuries, and at one point it was common to plunge a hot poker into your beverage (then commonly made with beer) that caused it to froth around or "flip". These days, most flips are served cold and often with a fortified wine, like sherry or port, and they are delightful as the egg adds wonderful body and texture to the drink.

Forms

plural

flips

comparative

flipper

superlative

flippest

past tense

flipped

past participle

flipped

present participle

flipping

third person singular

flips