flop Hear it!

flop Definition

flop (fläp)

transitive verb flopped, flop′·ping

  1. to flap, strike, throw, or cause to drop noisily and clumsily
  2. Photoengraving to turn (a film negative) face down before exposure to a metal plate, in order to create a desired mirror image

Etymology: echoic var. of flap

intransitive verb

  1. to move or flap around loosely or clumsily, usually with a thud or thuds
  2. to fall or drop in this way to flop into a chair
  3. ☆ to make a sudden change
  4. Informal to be a failure
  5. ☆ Slang to go to sleep

noun

  1. the act or sound of flopping
  2. ☆ Informal a failure
  3. ☆ Slang a place to sleep
  4. Slang dung or a piece of dung cow flop

adverb

with a flop

flop Related Forms

flop′·per noun

flop Synonyms

flop

v.

  1. To move with little control

    wobble, teeter, totter, tumble, flounder, flap, wave, flutter, shake, bounce, turn topsy-turvy, flip-flop.

  2. To fall without restraint

    slump, drop, plump down, plop; see fall 1.

  3. To be limp

    flap, droop, dangle; see hang 2.

  4. *To be a complete failure

    miscarry, founder, fall flat, bomb*; see fail 1.

flop Usage Examples

Converse of object

wear: Being both pretty and a pleasure to wear the flip flop is a cult object.

Adjective modifier

  • flip: Were the Tory leader to change track now, Labor's " flip flop " charge would stick to him like feathers on tar.
  • expensive: The names of the expensive flops may not trip off the tongue, but there have been plenty.
  • commercial: But in 1985 his first serious critical and commercial flop, Revolution, sent him into virtual exile for four years.
  • big: Log in View Full Version: Orson - big hit or big flop?
  • complete: Apart from these the Afghan campaign has been a complete flop.
  • total: It had been a tiring day and but for the run over the S. & C. would have been a total flop.

Preposition: into

  • chair: He put down a mug of coffee on the table and Daniel flopped into a chair, thanking him.
  • bed: There was no argument as tiredness took over, and he flopped into bed.

Modifying Another Word

  • badly: For all his success to come the trial of Sacheverell flopped badly.
  • about: She flopped about like a sawdust doll, with her arms swinging in front of her.
  • again: It is etched into their conscience that they will not flop again.

Followed by an intransitive particle

  • around: Your heart feels like a fish flopping around in a bucket.
  • down: The man's head was bowed, the long strands that normally covered his scalp flopping down across his face.
  • over: Do not open the door of the oven until the half hour is up or the cakes will simply flop over rather than rise.

Noun used with modifier

  • box-office: On its first release it was a box-office flop and nearly bankrupted its financiers UFA, Germany's largest film production company.
  • belly: Jump onto the Red Gem, then make your way to the end to find a gem and the super belly flop power.
  • pre: In the opening hand Nick attempted to pick up the blinds with a 40p bet pre flop.
  • traffic: If you want to make sure your site is not a ' traffic flop ' then here are some simple rules to follow.
  • box: The film was critically panned and was also box office flop.