Definition

1. Verb:

   • To toss or throw with a quick, light motion: To propel something, often a small object, so that it turns over in the air.
   • To turn over or cause to turn over quickly: To move something so the opposite side is facing up, often with a sudden, sharp movement.
   • To switch on or off: To operate a switch or lever with a quick movement.
   • To look through quickly: To browse through the pages of a book or magazine.
   • To react with sudden, strong emotion: To become very excited, angry, or surprised.
   • To go crazy or lose rationality: To behave in an irrational or uncontrolled manner.

2. Noun:

   • A quick, light toss or throw: The act of flipping something.
   • A somersault or acrobatic roll: A movement where the body turns over in the air, especially in diving or gymnastics.
   • A sudden, quick movement: A sharp, often small, motion.
   • A mixed drink: A hot or cold alcoholic beverage containing a beaten egg.

3. Adjective:

   • Marked by casual disrespect or flippancy: Showing a lack of seriousness or respect in a glib or offhand way.

Examples of Usage

• Verb:

  • She will flip the pancake when the edges are brown.
  • Can you flip the switch to turn on the lights?
  • He flipped through the magazine while waiting.
  • She flipped when she saw the surprise party.
  • The suspect finally flipped and confessed to the crime.

• Noun:

  • With a flip of his wrist, he sent the card spinning across the table.
  • The diver executed a perfect back flip.
  • He ordered a brandy flip at the bar.

• Adjective:

  • His flip remark offended the solemn audience.

Advanced Usage

• "Flip one's lid": To lose one's temper or self-control suddenly.

  • My boss will flip his lid if this report is late.

• "Flip side": The reverse or opposite side, often of a record or an issue.

  • The flip side of the single has a great B-side track.

• "Flip-flop" (verb/noun): To change one's opinion or decision repeatedly (verb); a type of open-toed sandal or a complete reversal (noun).

  • The politician was accused of flip-flopping on the issue.

Variants and Related Words

• Flippant (adj): Not showing a serious or respectful attitude.

  • She gave a flippant answer to the serious question.

• Flipper (n): A broad, flat limb adapted for swimming (e.g., on a seal, turtle); a device or person that flips things.

  • The sea lion used its flippers to propel itself.

Synonyms

• Verb: Toss, throw, flick, switch, browse, thumb, lose it, freak out.
• Noun: Toss, throw, somersault, roll.
• Adjective: Flippant, glib, disrespectful, cheeky.

Related Phrasal Verbs

• Flip over: To turn something so the other side is up; to become very enthusiastic about something.

  • Please flip over the document to read the terms on the back.
  • The kids flipped over the new video game.

• Flip out: To react with extreme emotion, such as anger, excitement, or panic.

  • He flipped out when he saw the dent in his car.

• Flip through: To look at a book, magazine, or pages quickly and casually.

  • I just flipped through the catalog to see what was new.

Related Idioms

• Flip a coin: To toss a coin into the air to make a random decision between two alternatives.

  • We couldn't decide, so we agreed to flip a coin.

• Flip the script: To completely reverse a situation, plan, or expected outcome.

  • The underdog team flipped the script and won the championship.

Adjective

1. marked by casual disrespect
   • a flip answer to serious question
   • the student was kept in for impudent behavior

Noun

1. (sports) the act of throwing the ball to another member of your team
   • the pass was fumbled
2. a dive in which the diver somersaults before entering the water
3. the act of flipping a coin
4. a sudden, quick movement
   • with a flip of the wrist
   • the fish flipped over
5. hot or cold alcoholic mixed drink containing a beaten egg
6. an acrobatic feat in which the feet roll over the head (either forward or backward) and return

Verb

1. reverse (a direction, attitude, or course of action)
2. go mad, go crazy
   • He flipped when he heard that he was being laid off
3. react in an excited, delighted, or surprised way
   • he flipped when he heard that he was accepted into Princeton University
4. turn upside down, or throw so as to reverse
   • flip over the pork chop
   • turn over the pancakes
5. move with a flick or light motion
6. throw or toss with a light motion
   • flip me the beachball
   • toss me newspaper
7. cause to move with a flick
   • he flicked his Bic
8. toss with a sharp movement so as to cause to turn over in the air
9. look through a book or other written material
   • He thumbed through the report
   • She leafed through the volume
10. cause to go on or to be engaged or set in operation
    • switch on the light
    • throw the lever
11. lightly throw to see which side comes up
    • I don't know what to do--I may as well flip a coin!