Word forms: 3rd person singular presenttense flips, present participle flipping, past tense, past participle flipped
1. verb
If you flip a device on or off, or if you flip a switch, you turn it on or off by pressing the switch quickly.
He didn't flip on the headlights until he was two blocks away. [V n with on/off]
Then he walked out, flipping the lights off. [V n with on/off]
He flipped the timer switch. [VERB noun]
Synonyms: flick, switch, snap, click More Synonyms of flip
2. verb
If you flip through the pages of a book, for example, you quickly turn over the pages in order to find a particular one or to get an idea of the contents.
He was flipping through a magazine in the living room. [VERB + through]
He flipped the pages of the diary and began reading the last entry. [VERB noun]
Synonyms: thumb, leaf, glance, thumb More Synonyms of flip
3. verb
If something flips over, or if you flip it over or into a different position, it moves or is moved into a different position.
The plane then flipped over and burst into flames. [VERB adverb/preposition]
He flipped it neatly on to the plate. [VERB noun preposition/adverb]
Synonyms: spin, turn, overturn, turn over More Synonyms of flip
4. verb
If you flip something, especially a coin, you use your thumb to make it turn over and over, as it goes through the air.
I pulled a coin from my pocket and flipped it. [VERB noun]
I flipped a butt out of the window and drove on. [VERB noun preposition]
Synonyms: toss, throw, cast, pitch More Synonyms of flip
Flip is also a noun.
...having gambled all on the flip of a coin.
5. verb
If someone flips, they suddenly become extremely upset or angry because of something that has happened.
[informal]
He got so provoked that he flipped. [VERB]
6. adjective
If you say that someone is being flip, you disapprove of them because you think that what they are saying shows they are not being serious enough about something.
[disapproval]
...a flip answer.
The tone of the book is sometimes too flip.
More Synonyms of flip
flip in British English
(flɪp)
verbWord forms: flips, flipping or flipped
1.
to throw (something light or small) carelessly or briskly; toss
she flipped me an envelope
2.
to throw or flick (an object such as a coin) so that it turns or spins in the air
3.
to propel by a sudden movement of the finger; flick
to flip a crumb across the room
4. (foll by through)
to read or look at (a book, newspaper, etc) quickly, idly, or incompletely
5. (intransitive)
(of small objects) to move or bounce jerkily
6. (intransitive)
to make a snapping movement or noise with the finger and thumb
7. (intransitive) slang
to fly into a rage or an emotional outburst (also in the phrases flip one's lid, flip one's top, flip out)
8. (intransitive) slang
to become ecstatic or very excited
he flipped over the jazz group
noun
9.
a snap or tap, usually with the fingers
10.
a rapid jerk
11.
a somersault, esp one performed in the air, as in a dive, rather than from a standing position
12. same as nog1 (sense 1)
adjective
13. informal
impertinent, flippant, or pert
Word origin
C16: probably of imitative origin; see fillip
flip in American English1
(flɪp)
verb transitiveWord forms: flipped or ˈflipping
1.
to toss or move with a quick jerk; flick
flip the drawer shut
2.
to snap (a coin) into the air with the thumb, as in betting on which side will land uppermost
3.
to turn or turn over
to flip pages in a book
verb intransitive
4.
to make a quick, light stroke, as with the finger or a whip; snap
5.
to move jerkily
6.
to flip a coin, as in letting chance decide something
7.
to turn over quickly; specif., to execute a flip
8.
to look (through) in a quick, random manner
9. US, Slang
to lose self-control as a result of excitement, anger, madness, etc.
: also flip out
noun
10.
the act or motion of flipping; snap, tap, jerk, or toss
11.
a somersault in the air
Idioms:
flip one's lid
Word origin
echoic
flip in American English2
(flɪp)
noun
a sweetened mixed drink of beer, wine, or liquor with eggs, spices, etc.
Word origin
prob. < flip1
flip in American English3
(flɪp)
adjectiveWord forms: ˈflipper or ˈflippest
Informal
flippant; saucy; impertinent
Word origin
contr. < flippant
More idioms containing
flip
flip your lid
In other languages
flip
British English: flip VERB
If you flip a device on or off, or if you flip a switch, you turn it on or off by pressing the switch quickly.
He didn't flip on the headlights until he was two blocks away.
American English: flip
Brazilian Portuguese: ligar
Chinese: 快速地按动 >装置或开关
European Spanish: encender {or} apagar
French: actionner
German: knipsen
Italian: azionare
Japanese: パチッとスイッチを入れたり切ったりする
Korean: > 켜다톡 쳐서
European Portuguese: ligar
Latin American Spanish: encender {or} apagar
All related terms of 'flip'
flip-up
able to be opened by being flipped upwards
egg flip
an alcoholic drink made from egg, sugar and brandy or sherry
flip-flop
Flip-flops are open shoes which are held on your feet by a strap that goes between your toes.
flip side
The flip side of a record is the side that does not have the main song on it.
flip-top
with a top that is able to be opened by being flipped upwards
flip chart
A flip chart is a stand with large sheets of paper which is used when presenting information at a meeting .
flip-flopped
shod in flip-flops ; wearing flip-flops
flip-flopper
a person who makes a complete change of policy, opinion , etc
flip-flopping
a backward handspring
flip one's lid
to become crazy or angry
flip your lid
to become extremely angry or upset about something, and lose control of yourself
flip someone the bird
→ give someone the finger ( see phrase under → UNRESOLVED CROSS REF )
B-side
The B-side of a pop record had the less important or less popular song on it. Compare → A-side .
Chinese translation of 'flip'
flip
(flɪp)
vt
[lights, switch]捻(撚) (niǎn)
(also flip over) 快速地翻转(轉) (kuàisù de fānzhuǎn)
vi
一下翻转(轉) (yīxià fānzhuǎn)
to flip a coin抛(拋)硬币(幣) (pāo yìngbì)
to flip a pancake翻烙饼(餅) (fān làobǐng)
1 (verb)
Definition
to turn (a device or machine) on or off by quickly pressing a switch
He walked out, flipping off the lights.
Synonyms
flick
I found some switches and flicked them.
switch
snap
He snapped the cap on his ballpoint.
click
Camera shutters clicked all around me.
jerk
2 (verb)
He flipped the pages of the diary
Synonyms
thumb
leaf
glance
I picked up the book and glanced through it.
thumb
skip
skim
I only had time to skim over the script before I came here.
browse
There are plenty of biographies for him to browse.
3 (verb)
Definition
to turn (something) over
We clambered into the lifeboat just before the boat flipped over.
Synonyms
spin
The Earth spins on its own axis.
turn
As the wheel turned, the potter shaped the clay.
overturn
turn over
The buggy turned over and she was thrown out.
roll over
twist
He fell and twisted his ankle.
4 (verb)
Definition
to throw (something light or small) carelessly
I flipped a cigarette butt out of the window.
Synonyms
toss
He screwed the paper up and tossed it into the fire.
throw
He spent hours throwing a tennis ball against a wall.
cast
She took a pebble and cast it into the water.
pitch
Simon pitched the ball across the field.
flick
fling
I flung the book on the table and stormed out.
sling (informal)
She slung her coat over the desk chair.
(noun)
Definition
a snap or tap, usually with the fingers
having gambled all on the flip of a coin
Synonyms
toss
Decisions are almost made with the toss of a die.
throw
One of the judges thought it was a foul throw.
cast
pitch
On the second pitch, Hernandez threw a ball to the backstop.
spin
a spin of the roulette wheel
snap
twist
A twist of the ankle denied him a place on the substitutes' bench.
flick
a flick of a paintbrush
jerk
Additional synonyms
in the sense of browse
Definition
to look through (a book or articles for sale) in a casual leisurely manner
There are plenty of biographies for him to browse.
Synonyms
skim,
scan,
glance at,
survey,
look through,
look round,
dip into,
leaf through,
peruse,
flip through,
examine cursorily
in the sense of cast
Definition
to roll or throw (a dice)
She took a pebble and cast it into the water.
Synonyms
throw,
project,
launch,
pitch,
shed,
shy,
toss,
thrust,
hurl,
fling,
chuck (informal),
sling,
lob,
impel,
drive,
drop
in the sense of cast
Synonyms
throw,
toss,
thrust,
fling,
lob
Synonyms of 'flip'
flip
Explore 'flip' in the dictionary
Additional synonyms
in the sense of turn
Definition
to rotate or move round
As the wheel turned, the potter shaped the clay.
Synonyms
rotate,
spin,
go round (and round),
revolve,
roll,
circle,
wheel,
twist,
spiral,
whirl,
swivel,
pivot,
twirl,
gyrate,
go round in circles,
move in a circle
in the sense of turn over
The buggy turned over and she was thrown out.
Synonyms
overturn,
tip over,
flip over,
upend,
be upset,
reverse,
capsize,
keel over
in the sense of twist
Definition
to force or be forced out of the natural form or position
He fell and twisted his ankle.
Synonyms
sprain,
turn,
rick,
wrench
in the sense of twist
Definition
a distortion of the original shape or form
A twist of the ankle denied him a place on the substitutes' bench.