Definition

1. Noun:
   • A brief, sharp sound or a short, sudden change in a signal: A small, often electronic, signal or interruption, typically visualized as a short line or spot on a radar or screen.
   • A minor, temporary problem or setback: A small, often unexpected, and usually brief deviation from the normal course or trend.

Usage Examples

• Noun:
  • The pilot watched for the blip on the radar screen that would indicate another aircraft.
  • There was a small blip in the power supply, causing the lights to flicker for a second.
  • The company's profits fell last quarter, but the CEO called it just a temporary blip.
  • Ignore that negative comment; it's just a blip in our otherwise positive feedback.

Advanced Usage

• "to be a blip on the radar/screen": To be a minor, often temporary, issue or event that is not considered significant in the long term.
  • The economic downturn was just a blip on the radar for the well-diversified company.
• "to register as a blip": To appear or be recorded as a minor, temporary event.
  • The policy change barely registered as a blip in public opinion polls.

Variants and Related Words

• Blip can also function informally as a verb meaning to make such a brief sound or signal.
  • The monitor blipped quietly, indicating a new message.
• Blipvert (n): A portmanteau of 'blip' and 'commercial', referring to an extremely short television advertisement. (This is a related compound word, not a variant of 'blip' itself).

Synonyms

• Noun: Glitch, hiccup, anomaly, fluctuation, interruption, blip.

Related Phrases

• Radar blip: The specific visual representation of an object on a radar screen.
  • The radar blip moved steadily across the controller's scope.
• Statistical blip: A minor, insignificant variation in data.
  • The analyst dismissed the drop as a statistical blip.

Idioms

• A mere blip: Emphasizes that something is insignificant or temporary.
  • In the grand scheme of his career, that failed project was a mere blip.
• Blip on the horizon: A small, emerging issue that may become more significant.
  • The new regulations are still just a blip on the horizon for most businesses.

Noun

1. a radar echo displayed so as to show the position of a reflecting surface
2. a sudden minor shock or meaningless interruption
   • the market had one bad blip today
   • you can't react to the day-to-day blips
   • renewed jitters in the wake of a blip in retail sales