flip-flop

[ flip-flop ]

/ ˈflɪpˌflɒp /

SEE SYNONYMS FOR flip-flop ON THESAURUS.COM

noun

Informal. a sudden or unexpected reversal, as of direction, belief, attitude, or policy.

a backward somersault.

Also called flip-flop circuit. Electronics. an electronic circuit having two stable conditions, each one corresponding to one of two alternative input signals.

any of several similar devices having two alternative states, the change of state being caused by some input signal or by some change of input.

the sound and motion of something flapping, as a wind-blown shutter; a banging to and fro.

any backless, usually open-toed flat shoe or slipper.

a flat, backless rubber sandal, usually secured on the foot by a thong between the first two toes, as for use at a beach, swimming pool, etc. Compare thong, zori.

(in advertising) a display or presentation, usually on an easel, consisting of a series of pages hinged at the top and flipped over in sequence.

adverb

with repeated sounds and motions, as of something flapping.

verb (used without object), flip-flopped, flip-flop·ping.

Informal. to make a sudden or unexpected reversal, as of direction, belief, attitude, or policy: The opposition claimed that the president had flip-flopped on certain issues.

to execute a backward somersault.

to flap; bang to and fro: The door flip-flopped in the high wind.

Also flip-flap

[flip-flap] /ˈflɪpˌflæp/ (for defs 2, 5, 9, 12), flip·flop (for defs 6, 7).

Origin of flip-flop

First recorded in 1655–65

Words nearby flip-flop

flip, flip chart, flip one's lid, flip side, flip through, flip-flop, flip-flopper, flip-top, flip-up, flipbook, flippant

Example sentences from the Web for flip-flopping

And so far, all he is getting for his trouble is charges of flip-flopping.

The Secret to Rand Paul’s Foreign Policy: His Father |W. James Antle III |September 12, 2014 |DAILY BEAST
But this kind of flip-flopping can be used against him, too.

Obama Lost the Debate the Right Way |Deepak Chopra |October 4, 2012 |DAILY BEAST
But Mitt Romney, who took the gold in flip-flopping during the primaries, is anything but a candidate of hard truths.

The Anti-Reagan: Even A Hologram Of The Gipper Overshadows Mitt Romney |Will Marshall |September 1, 2012 |DAILY BEAST
In a devastating ad, footage of Kerry riding the breeze of Nantucket was juxtaposed with hits on his alleged “flip-flopping.”

Santorum’s Audi and Other Political Transportation Follies |Ben Jacobs |February 18, 2012 |DAILY BEAST

Such familiarity insulates Gingrich from the kind of flip-flopping charges that have proved so corrosive for Romney.

Iowa Conservatives Forgive Newt Gingrich for His Past Mistakes |Howard Kurtz |December 13, 2011 |DAILY BEAST

British Dictionary definitions for flip-flopping

flip-flop

noun

a backward handspring

Also called: bistable an electronic device or circuit that can assume either of two stable states by the application of a suitable pulse

informal, mainly US a complete change of opinion, policy, etc

a repeated flapping or banging noise

Also called (US, Canadian, Austral, and NZ): thong a rubber-soled sandal attached to the foot by a thong between the big toe and the next toe

verb -flops, -flopping or -flopped (intr)

informal, mainly US to make a complete change of opinion, policy, etc

to move with repeated flaps

adverb

with repeated flappings to go flip-flop

Word Origin for flip-flop

C16: reduplication of flip

BROWSE DICTIONARY

Learning

flip-flop

noun

adverb

verb (used without object), flip-flopped, flip-flop·ping.

Origin of flip-flop

Words nearby flip-flop

Example sentences from the Web for flip-flopping

British Dictionary definitions for flip-flopping

noun

verb -flops, -flopping or -flopped (intr)

adverb

Word Origin for flip-flop

BROWSE DICTIONARY

Learning

flip-flop

noun

adverb

verb (used without object), flip-flopped, flip-flop·ping.

Origin of flip-flop

Words nearby flip-flop

Words related to flip-flopping

Example sentences from the Web for flip-flopping

(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []) .push({}); British Dictionary definitions for flip-flopping

noun

verb -flops, -flopping or -flopped (intr)

adverb

Word Origin for flip-flop

British Dictionary definitions for flip-flopping