slap

[ slap ]

/ slæp /

SEE SYNONYMS FOR slap ON THESAURUS.COM

noun

a sharp blow or smack, especially with the open hand or with something flat.

a sound made by or as if by such a blow or smack: the slap of the waves against the dock.

a sharply worded or sarcastic rebuke or comment.

verb (used with object), slapped, slap·ping.

to strike sharply, especially with the open hand or with something flat.

to bring (the hand, something flat, etc.) with a sharp blow against something.

to dash or cast forcibly: He slapped the package against the wall.

to put or place promptly and sometimes haphazardly (often followed by on): The officer slapped a ticket on the car. He slapped mustard on the sandwich.

adverb

Informal. directly; straight; smack: The tug rammed slap into the side of the freighter.

Verb Phrases

slap down,

to subdue, especially by a blow or by force; suppress.
to reject, oppose, or criticize sharply: to slap down dissenting voices.

Idioms for slap

slap on the wrist, relatively mild criticism or censure: He got away with a slap on the wrist.

Origin of slap

First recorded in 1625–35, slap is from the Low German word slapp, slappe; of expressive orig.

synonym study for slap

1. See blow¹.

OTHER WORDS FROM slap

slap·per, noun

Words nearby slap

slant-eyed, slant-in, slant-top, slanter, slantwise, slap, slap bass, slap dashing, slap down, slap in the face, slap on the back

British Dictionary definitions for slap on the wrist

slap

/ (slæp) /

noun

a sharp blow or smack, as with the open hand, something flat, etc

the sound made by or as if by such a blow

a sharp rebuke; reprimand

a bit of slap and tickle or slap and tickle British informal sexual play

a slap in the face an insult or rebuff

a slap on the back congratulation

a slap on the wrist a light punishment or reprimand

verb slaps, slapping or slapped

(tr) to strike (a person or thing) sharply, as with the open hand or something flat

(tr) to bring down (the hand, something flat, etc) sharply

(when intr, usually foll by against) to strike (something) with or as if with a slap

(tr) informal, mainly British to apply in large quantities, haphazardly, etc she slapped butter on the bread

slap on the back to congratulate

adverb informal

exactly; directly slap on time

forcibly or abruptly to fall slap on the floor

Derived forms of slap

slapper, noun

Word Origin for slap

C17: from Low German slapp, German Schlappe, of imitative origin

Idioms and Phrases with slap on the wrist

slap on the wrist

A mild reproof, as in We were fined heavily, and all she got from the judge was a slap on the wrist. [Early 1900s]

BROWSE DICTIONARY

Learning

slap

noun

verb (used with object), slapped, slap·ping.

adverb

Verb Phrases

Idioms for slap

Origin of slap

synonym study for slap

OTHER WORDS FROM slap

Words nearby slap

British Dictionary definitions for slap on the wrist

noun

verb slaps, slapping or slapped

adverb informal

Derived forms of slap

Word Origin for slap

Idioms and Phrases with slap on the wrist

BROWSE DICTIONARY

Learning

slap

noun

verb (used with object), slapped, slap·ping.

adverb

Verb Phrases

Idioms for slap

Origin of slap

synonym study for slap

OTHER WORDS FROM slap

Words nearby slap

(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []) .push({}); British Dictionary definitions for slap on the wrist

noun

verb slaps, slapping or slapped

adverb informal

Derived forms of slap

Word Origin for slap

Idioms and Phrases with slap on the wrist

British Dictionary definitions for slap on the wrist