flip

[[t]flɪ̱p[/t]]

flips, flipping, flipped

1) VERB If you flip a device on or off, or if you flip a switch, you turn it on or off by pressing the switch quickly.

[V n with on/off] He didn't flip on the headlights until he was two blocks away...

[V n with on/off] Then he walked out, flipping the lights off...

[V n] He flipped the timer switch.

Syn:

flick

2) VERB If you flip through the pages of a book, for example, you quickly turn over the pages in order to find a particular one or to get an idea of the contents.

[V through n] He was flipping through a magazine in the living room...

[V n] He flipped the pages of the diary and began reading the last entry.

3) V-ERG If something flips over, or if you flip it over or into a different position, it moves or is moved into a different position.

[V adv/prep] The plane then flipped over and burst into flames...

[V n prep/adv] He flipped it neatly on to the plate.

4) VERB If you flip something, especially a coin, you use your thumb to make it turn over and over, as it goes through the air.

[V n] I pulled a coin from my pocket and flipped it...

[V n prep] I flipped a butt out of the window and drove on.

Syn:

toss

N-SING: N of n

Flip is also a noun.

...having gambled all on the flip of a coin.

5) VERB If someone flips, they suddenly become extremely upset or angry because of something that has happened. [INFORMAL]

He got so provoked that he flipped.

Syn:

snap

6) ADJ-GRADED (disapproval) If you say that someone is being flip, you disapprove of them because you think that what they are saying shows they are not being serious enough about something.

...a flip answer...

The tone of the book is sometimes too flip.

Syn:

flippant, glib