What's the difference between
and
Enter two words to compare and contrast their definitions, origins, and synonyms to better understand how those words are related.

Fling vs Flip - What's the difference?

fling | flip |

Flip is a synonym of fling.



In transitive terms the difference between fling and flip

is that fling is to throw with violence or quick movement; to hurl 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.

fling

English

Noun

(en noun)
  • An act of throwing, often violently.
  • An act of moving the limbs or body with violent movements, especially in a dance.
    • the fling of a horse
  • An act or period of unrestrained indulgence.
  • * D. Jerrold
    • When I was as young as you, I had my fling . I led a life of pleasure.
  • Short, often sexual relationship.
    • I had a fling with a girl I met on holiday.
  • (figuratively) An attempt, a try (as in "give it a fling" ).
  • (obsolete) A severe or contemptuous remark; an expression of sarcastic scorn; a gibe; a sarcasm.
  • * Jonathan Swift
    • I, who love to have a fling , / Both at senate house and king.
  • A kind of dance.
    • the Highland fling
  • (obsolete) A trifing matter; an object of contempt.
  • * Old proverb
    • England were but a fling / Save for the crooked stick and the grey goose wing.

    Synonyms

    * (l)

    Verb

  • To throw with violence or quick movement; to hurl.
  • * Dryden
    • 'Tis Fate that flings the dice: and, as she flings, / Of kings makes peasants, and of peasants kings.
  • * Addison
    • I know thy generous temper well. / Fling but the appearance of dishonour on it, / It straight takes fire.
  • * 2011 , Tom Fordyce, Rugby World Cup 2011: England 12-19 France [http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/rugby_union/15210221.stm]
    • Wilkinson was struggling, sending the re-start straight into touch and flinging a pass the same way, and France then went close to the first try of the contest as Clerc took a long pass out on the left and was just bundled into touch by the corner flag.
  • (archaic) To throw oneself in a violent or hasty manner; to rush or spring with violence or haste.
  • * Milton
    • And crop-full, out of doors he flings .
  • * Elizabeth Browning
    • I flung' closer to his breast, / As sword that, after battle, ' flings to sheath.
  • (archaic) To throw; to wince; to flounce.
  • * Helen Crocket, The Ettrick Shepherd's Last Tale
    • The horse flung most potently, making his heels fly aloft in the air.
  • (archaic) To utter abusive language; to sneer.
    • The scold began to flout and fling .

    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 ----