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Flap vs Flip - What's the difference?

flap | flip |

In transitive terms the difference between flap and flip

is that flap is to move (something broad and loose) back and forth while flip is to put into a quick revolving motion through a snap of the thumb and index finger.

As an interjection flip is

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

As an adjective flip is

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

flap

English

Noun

(en noun)
  • Anything broad and flexible that hangs loose, or that is attached by one side or end and is easily moved.
  • * Sir Thomas Browne
    • a cartilaginous flap upon the opening of the larynx
  • *
  • A hinged leaf, as of a table or shutter.
  • An upset, stir, scandal or controversy
  • The motion of anything broad and loose, or a stroke or sound made with it.
  • * , chapter=4
    • , title= Mr. Pratt's Patients , passage=Then he commenced to talk, really talk. and inside of two flaps of a herring's fin he had me mesmerized, like Eben Holt's boy at the town hall show. He talked about the ills of humanity, and the glories of health and Nature and service and land knows what all.}}
  • A disease in the lips of horses.
  • (aviation) A hinged surface on the trailing edge of the wings of an aeroplane.
  • (surgery) A piece of tissue incompletely detached from the body, as an intermediate stage of plastic surgery.
  • (slang) The female genitals.

    • Synonyms

    * (upset)

    See also

    * ("flap" on Wikipedia) * * lappet

    Verb

    (flapp)
  • To move (something broad and loose) back and forth.
    • The crow slowly flapped its wings.
  • *
  • To move loosely back and forth.
    • The flag flapped in the breeze.
  • * {{quote-news
    • , year=2011 , date=September 29 , author=Tom Rostance , title=Stoke 2 - 1 Besiktas , work=BBC Sport citation , page= , passage=Former Turkey goalkeeper Rustu Recber flapped at his first Delap throw but was given a soft free-kick by referee Antony Gautier.}}

    Derived terms

    * cat flap * flapper * unflappable ----

    flip

    English

    Etymology 1

    Alteration of earlier fillip, from (etyl) .

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • 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.
  • A complete change of direction, decision, movement etc.
    • Derived terms
    * backflip

    Verb

  • To throw (as in to turn over).
    • You need to flip the pancake onto the other side.
  • * {{quote-news, year=2011, date=September 16, author=Ben Dirs, title=Rugby World Cup 2011: New Zealand 83-7 Japan, work=BBC Sport citation
    • , passage=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.}}
  • 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.
  • (slang) To go berserk or crazy.
    • I'd flip if anyone broke my phone.
  • To buy an asset (usually a house), improve it and sell it quickly for profit.
  • (computing) To invert a bit (binary digit), changing it from 0 to 1 or from 1 to 0.
    • Derived terms
    * backflip * flip phone * flipside * flipper * flip out * flip off * flip over
    Synonyms
    * turn, turn over * (to put into a quick revolving motion) toss

    Etymology 2

    Apparently a euphemism for (fuck).

    Interjection

    (en interjection)
  • (UK, mildly, vulgar) used to express annoyance, especially when the speaker has made an error.
  • * 1967 , Peter Shaffer, Black comedy, including White lies: two plays
    • Impossible. He's dining out and coming on here after. He can't be reached. / Oh, flip !
  • * 2000 , Susan McKay, Northern Protestants
    • "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'.
    Synonyms
    * damn

    Etymology 3

    From , by shortening.

    Adjective

    (flipper)
  • (British, informal) Having the quality of playfulness, or lacking seriousness of purpose.
    • I hate to be flip, but perhaps we could steal a Christmas tree.
  • sarcastic

    • Etymology 4

    Compare English dialect .

    Noun

  • A mixture of beer, spirit, etc., stirred and heated by a hot iron (a flip dog ).
    • English clippings English ergative verbs English onomatopoeias ----