Word: flip Part of Speech: verb Etymology: Alteration of earlier fillip, from Middle English filippen (“to make a signal or sound with thumb and right forefinger, snap the fingers”), an attenuated variation of flappen (“to flap, clap, slap, strike”). Cognate with Dutch flappen (“to flap”), German flappen (“to flap”). Pronunciation: /flɪp/ 1. To throw so as to turn over. Labels: transitive Example: You need to flip the pancake onto the other side. Example: 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. 2. To put into a quick revolving motion through a snap of the thumb and index finger. Labels: transitive Example: If you can't decide which option to go for, flip a coin. Example: Parkour – often referred to as freerunning – entails creatively moving through an urban environment: flipping, jumping and vaulting across various obstacles. 3. To win a state (or county) won by another party in the preceding elections. Labels: US, transitive Example: Wisconsin had been Democratic for decades, but the Republicans flipped it in 2016. 4. To turn state's evidence; to agree to testify against one's co-conspirators in exchange for concessions from prosecutors. Labels: US, intransitive Example: The mafioso flipped on his superiors to get a lighter sentence. 5. To induce someone to turn state's evidence; to get someone to agree to testify against their co-conspirators in exchange for concessions. Labels: US, transitive Example: The district attorney was able to strengthen his case against the bank robber by flipping the getaway driver. 6. To go berserk or crazy; to get extremely angry. Labels: intransitive, slang Example: I'd flip if anyone broke my phone. Example: They're talkin' bout the night Santa went crazy The night St. Nicholas flipped Broke his back for some milk and cookies Sounds to me like he was tired of gettin' gypped 7. To go berserk or crazy; to be extremely thrilled or enthusiastic. Labels: intransitive, slang Example: Heading home from a party, two hipsters, completely stoned, pause to snuggle on a park bench. A fire engine roars by, bells clanging, sirens screaming. The boy flips. “Solid, doll,” he murmurs, “they’re playing our song!” Example: 1964, Lou Sullivan, personal diary, quoted in 2019, Ellis Martin, Zach Ozma (editors), We Both Laughed In Pleasure I got a silver ring with a "B" on it for Beatles. I really flip for those excellent guys. 8. To purchase and resell assets (often real estate or artworks) for immediate short-term profit. Labels: slang, transitive Example: Those companies have been flipping houses in the real estate market for years. Example: After the formal part of dealer interviews, often later over a glass of wine, tales would be told of how the dealer does cope with pricing decisions, how other dealers are thought to set prices, and the pricing problems that result when evil collectors flip new paintings at auction. 9. To refinance (a loan), accruing additional fees. Labels: slang, transitive Example: The bill makes it illegal to encourage borrowers to repeatedly refinance, or "flip," a loan primarily to collect more fees. Example: Some of our consumer protection offices are all too familiar with the abusive practice of "flipping" loans. 10. To invert a bit (binary digit), changing it from 0 to 1 or from 1 to 0. Labels: transitive 11. To hand over or pass along. Labels: informal, transitive Example: "Flip me the details, and I'll have a sneaky beaky round for you." 12. To switch to another task, etc. Labels: informal, intransitive Example: I flipped from the calendar app to the email app and logged in to view Cooper's. The unreads were staggering; I'd have to triage them later. 13. To put on a (facial expression). Labels: transitive Example: I knew he was kidding because he flipped a grin at me. 14. To flap. Labels: intransitive Example: Rising above it all, an American flag flipped in the breeze.