FLIP Definition & Meaning - Merriam-Webster
to toss so as to cause to turn over in the air; also : toss; to cause to turn and especially to turn over; to move with a small quick motion… See the full definition
www.merriam-webster.comHere are the latest general notes on the term “flip” and how it’s used today.
- Core meaning: Flip most commonly means to turn over or rotate something quickly, like flipping a coin or flipping a pancake. It can also mean a quick change of position or orientation, such as flipping a switch or flipping a sign from one side to another.[1][2][4]
- Extended usages: In finance and trading, “flip” often describes quickly changing a position (long to short or vice versa), or flipping ownership in early-stage investments or IPOs for short-term gains. In informal American English, “flip” can also refer to persuading someone to testify against another or changing political allegiance in a given district.[3]
- Other senses: The word appears in phrases like “flip side,” “flip out” (lose control or become very excited), and “flip” as a noun meaning a quick, light motion or a small change in direction.[4][7]
- Dictionaries and usage notes: Major dictionaries define flip with senses around physical flipping (turning over, tossing), turning into something else (changing sides or orientation), and figurative uses (changing positions or attitudes).[2][7][1]
- News coverage: “Flip” shows up in finance/trading contexts and in political shorthand about districts likely to flip party control, reflecting its use as a rapid, decisive action or change.[5][3]
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