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Flip vs Toss - What's the difference?

flip | toss | Synonyms |

Toss is a synonym of flip.



As nouns the difference between flip and toss

is that flip is a maneuver which rotates an object end over end while toss is a throw, a lob, of a ball etc., with an initial upward direction, particularly with a lack of care.

As verbs the difference between flip and toss

is that flip is to throw (as in to turn over) while toss is to throw with an initial upward direction.

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.

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 ----

    toss

    English

    Noun

    (es)
  • A throw, a lob, of a ball etc., with an initial upward direction, particularly with a lack of care.
  • (cricket, football) The toss of a coin before a cricket match in order to decide who bats first, or before a football match in order to decide the direction of play.
  • (British, slang) A jot, in the phrase 'give a toss'.
    • I couldn't give a toss about her.

    Derived terms

    * argue the toss

    Verb

  • To throw with an initial upward direction.
    • Toss it over here!
  • To lift with a sudden or violent motion.
    • to toss the head
  • * Addison
    • He tossed his arm aloft, and proudly told me, / He would not stay.
  • To agitate; to make restless.
  • * Milton
    • Calm region once, / And full of peace, now tossed and turbulent.
  • To subject to trials; to harass.
  • * Herbert
    • Whom devils fly, thus is he tossed of men.
  • To flip a coin, to decide a point of contention.
    • I'll toss you for it.
  • To discard: to toss out
    • ''I don't need it anymore, you can just toss it.
  • To stir or mix (a salad).
    • to toss''' a salad; a '''tossed salad.
  • (British, vulgar, slang) To masturbate
  • (informal) To search (a room or a cell), sometimes leaving visible disorder, as for valuables or evidence of a crime.
    • "Someone tossed just his living room and bedroom." / "They probably found what they were looking for."
  • * 2003 , Joseph Wambaugh, Fire Lover , p. 258:
    • John Orr had occasion to complain in writing to the senior supervisor that his Playboy and Penthouse magazines had been stolen by deputies. And he believed that was what prompted a random search of his cell for contraband. He was stripped, handcuffed, and forced to watch as they tossed his cell .
  • * 2009 , , Red Dragon :
    • Rankin and Willingham, when they tossed his cell , they took Polaroids so they could get everything back in place.
  • * 2011 , Linda Howard, Kill and Tell: A Novel :
    • Hayes had watched him toss a room before. He had tapped walls, gotten down on his hands and knees and studied the floor, inspected books and lamps and bric-abrac.
  • To roll and tumble; to be in violent commotion.
    • tossing and turning in bed, unable to sleep
  • To be tossed, as a fleet on the ocean.
    • (Shakespeare)
  • (obsolete) To keep in play; to tumble over.
    • to spend four years in tossing the rules of grammar
    (Ascham)
  • To peak (the oars), to lift them from the rowlocks and hold them perpendicularly, the handle resting on the bottom of the boat.

    • See also

    * tosser * toss off * toss in * toss and turn

    Anagrams

    * * *