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Flit vs Flip - What's the difference?

flit | flip |

As nouns the difference between flit and flip

is that flit is a fluttering or darting movement while flip is a maneuver which rotates an object end over end.

As verbs the difference between flit and flip

is that flit is to move about rapidly and nimbly while flip is to throw (as in to turn over).

As adjectives the difference between flit and flip

is that flit is fast, nimble while flip is having the quality of playfulness, or lacking seriousness of purpose.

As an interjection flip is

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

flit

English

Noun

(en noun)
  • A fluttering or darting movement.
  • (physics) A particular, unexpected, short lived change of state.
    • My computer just had a flit .
  • (slang) A homosexual.

    • Verb

  • To move about rapidly and nimbly.
  • * Tennyson
    • A shadow flits before me.
  • * 1912 : (Edgar Rice Burroughs), (Tarzan of the Apes), Chapter 6
    • There were many apes with faces similar to his own, and further over in the book he found, under "M," some little monkeys such as he saw daily flitting through the trees of his primeval forest. But nowhere was pictured any of his own people; in all the book was none that resembled Kerchak, or Tublat, or Kala.
  • To move quickly from one location to another.
  • * Hooker
    • It became a received opinion, that the souls of men, departing this life, did flit out of one body into some other.
  • (physics) To unpredictably change state for short periods of time.
    • My blender flits because the power cord is damaged.
  • (UK, Scotland, dialect) To move house (sometimes a sudden move to avoid debts).
    • (Wright)
    (Jamieson)
  • * 1855 , , page 199 (ISBN 0679405518)
    • After this manner did the late Warden of Barchester Hospital accomplish his flitting , and change his residence.
  • To be unstable; to be easily or often moved.
  • * Dryden
    • the free soul to flitting air resigned

    Related terms

    * dart * dash * flirt * lunge

    Adjective

    (en adjective)
  • (poetic, obsolete) Fast, nimble.
  • * 1590 , Edmund Spenser, The Faerie Queene , II.iv:
    • And in his hand two darts exceeding flit , / And deadly sharpe he held [...].

    Anagrams

    * ----

    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 ----