flip

¹

[ flip ]

verb (used with object)

, flipped, flip·ping.

1. to toss or put in motion with a sudden impulse, as with a snap of a finger and thumb, especially so as to cause to turn over in the air:

   to flip a coin.

2. to move (something) suddenly or jerkily.
3. to turn over, especially with a short rapid gesture:

   to flip pancakes with a spatula.

4. to cause to switch from one political party or candidate to another:

   Republicans flipped the Senate and increased their majority in the House.

5. Slang.
   1. to provide incriminating evidence about (an associate or accomplice); inform on:

      I only work with people I know won’t flip me.

   2. to turn into an informer:

      The prosecutor will try to flip the defendant in exchange for a reduced sentence.

6. to buy and sell (real estate or another asset) for a quick profit:

   The buyer flipped the house for double what he paid for it, just nine months after renovations were completed.

7. to change (an opinion, stance, or way of thinking):

   Federal courts had ruled the practice unconstitutional, but an appeals judge flipped the decision.

8. Slang. to make (someone) insane, irrational, angry, or highly excited (usually followed by out ).
9. Finance. to resell, especially quickly, or to refinance, as a mortgage loan.

verb (used without object)

, flipped, flip·ping.

1. to make a flicking movement; strike at something smartly or sharply; snap.
2. to move oneself with or as if with flippers:

   The seals flipped along the beach.

3. to move with a jerk or jerks.
4. to turn over or perform a somersault in the air.
5. to switch from one political party or candidate to another: Last November, most state legislatures saw fewer than five seats flip one way or the other.

   Formerly Democratic, our state has flipped to become red.

   Last November, most state legislatures saw fewer than five seats flip one way or the other.

6. Slang to provide incriminating evidence about an associate or accomplice; inform on:

   They wanted me to flip on the guy who sold me the drugs.

7. to change one’s opinion, stance, or way of thinking:

   The CEO has been accused of flipping on the issue of employee vacation time.

8. to shift from one state, position, etc., to another:

   My mood seems to flip 180 degrees without any obvious triggers.

9. Slang.
   1. to react to something in an excited, astonished, or delighted manner:

      He really flipped over his new girlfriend.

   2. to become insane, irrational, angry, or highly excited (often followed by out ).

noun

1. an instance of flipping; a smart tap or strike.
2. a sudden jerk.
3. a somersault, especially one performed in the air:

   a back flip off the diving board.

4. Cards. a variety of seven-card stud in which each player receives the first four cards facedown and selects two of them to expose before receiving the next card.
5. Slang. flip side.

flip

²

[ flip ]

noun

1. a mixed drink made with liquor or wine, sugar, and egg, topped with powdered nutmeg and served hot or cold.
2. a drink, popular especially in the 18th century, made with beer or ale mixed with rum or other liquor, sweetened and served hot.

flip

³

[ flip ]

adjective

, Informal.

, flip·per, flip·pest.

1. flippant; pert:

   She answered with a flip remark.

flip

/ flɪp /

verb

1. to throw (something light or small) carelessly or briskly; toss

   he flipped me an envelope

2. to throw or flick (an object such as a coin) so that it turns or spins in the air
3. to propel by a sudden movement of the finger; flick

   to flip a crumb across the room

4. foll by through to read or look at (a book, newspaper, etc) quickly, idly, or incompletely
5. intr (of small objects) to move or bounce jerkily
6. intr to make a snapping movement or noise with the finger and thumb
7. slang.
   intr to fly into a rage or an emotional outburst (also in the phrases flip one's lid, flip one's top, flip out )
8. slang.
   intr to become ecstatic or very excited

   he flipped over the jazz group

noun

1. a snap or tap, usually with the fingers
2. a rapid jerk
3. a somersault, esp one performed in the air, as in a dive, rather than from a standing position
4. same as nog 1

adjective

1. informal.
   impertinent, flippant, or pert

Word History and Origins

Origin of flip¹

First recorded in 1585–95; 1955–60 flip ¹fordef 18; fillip

Origin of flip²

First recorded in 1690–1700; perhaps noun use of flip ¹, so called from tossing or flipping of ingredients in preparation

Origin of flip³

First recorded in 1840–50; adjective use of flip ¹

Word History and Origins

Origin of flip¹

C16: probably of imitative origin; see fillip

Idioms and Phrases

Idioms

1. flip (someone) the bird, Slang. give (someone) the finger.
2. flip one's lid / wig, Slang. lid ( def 8 ).

Example Sentences

You can essentially flip that record for the next four teams the Chargers play: Cincinnati, Baltimore, Atlanta and Kansas City, who are a combined 26-13.

From Los Angeles Times

On the flip side, you can eat at a restaurant in New York where it's impossible to get a reservation but the food isn’t very good, while in London if the food isn’t great, the restaurant won’t last.

From Salon

“When we walk into 2026, it’d be much easier to defend these seats versus having to flip them. And that’ll give Democrats nationally just a little bit of an extra advantage from a starting point,” said Gomez Daly, a senior political strategist with California Donor Table and chair of Battleground California.

From Los Angeles Times

In the Riverside County district that Democrats are trying to flip, he said, “the voting electorate between 18 to 24 that’s being rejected are predominantly Latino.”

From Los Angeles Times

Last month, the Cook Political Report moved the district race from “likely Democratic” to “leaning Democratic,” a sign of the concerted effort by Republicans to flip the seat.

From Los Angeles Times