flip-flop
B1Informal
Definition
Meaning
A type of open-toed sandal, typically held on the foot by a Y-shaped strap that passes between the first and second toes and around both sides of the foot.
A complete reversal of opinion, policy, or position; the act of changing one's mind or decision, often suddenly or repeatedly. As a verb: to reverse a decision or opinion; to make a flapping sound.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
The term's primary concrete meaning refers to footwear, while its main abstract meaning denotes indecisiveness or political opportunism. The sound symbolic nature of the word ('flip' and 'flop') relates to the sound of the sandal hitting the heel.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
In British English, the footwear is more commonly called 'flip-flops' (plural). The political sense is used similarly in both. The verb 'to flip-flop' is slightly more common in American political discourse.
Connotations
In political contexts, it carries a strongly negative connotation of inconsistency and lack of conviction in both varieties. For footwear, it is a neutral, informal term.
Frequency
The footwear sense is high-frequency in informal contexts. The political sense spikes during election cycles, particularly in US media.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
[Subject] flip-flops[Subject] flip-flops on [Issue][Subject] was accused of a flip-flopVocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “flip-flop on an issue”
- “do a complete flip-flop”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Rare, except in discussions of PR or strategy changes ('The company flip-flopped on its return-to-office policy').
Academic
Rare in formal writing; may appear in political science or media analysis.
Everyday
Very common for footwear; common for describing indecisive people or politicians.
Technical
In electronics, a 'flip-flop' is a circuit with two stable states used for storing binary data (this is a separate, homographic term).
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- The candidate has flip-flopped on the tax issue several times.
- Stop flip-flopping and make a decision!
American English
- The senator flip-flopped on the healthcare bill after pressure from donors.
- He flip-flopped between the two job offers.
adverb
British English
- (Extremely rare; not standard).
American English
- (Extremely rare; not standard).
adjective
British English
- His flip-flop attitude frustrated the team.
- (Rare as attributive adjective; 'flip-flop policy' is possible).
American English
- The governor's flip-flop stance confused voters.
- (Similar to British; often used in political journalism).
Examples
By CEFR Level
- I wear flip-flops at the beach.
- The flip-flops are next to the door.
- He bought new flip-flops for his holiday.
- The politician did a flip-flop on the education policy.
- After widespread criticism, the minister performed an embarrassing flip-flop on the proposed legislation.
- The constant flip-flopping of management has damaged staff morale.
- Analysts attributed the campaign's decline to the candidate's perceived flip-flopping on key economic issues, which undermined her credibility.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine a politician wearing FLIP-FLOPS, who can't decide which foot to put forward, so he keeps FLIPping and FLOPping his position.
Conceptual Metaphor
CHANGING ONE'S MIND IS PHYSICAL TUMBLING/REVERSAL (flip over, flop down).
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Avoid literal translation as 'прыжок-плюх' or similar. For footwear, use 'вьетнамки' or 'шлёпанцы'. For the political sense, use 'разворот на 180 градусов', 'отказ от прежней позиции'. The verb should be translated as 'передумать кардинально', 'сделать поворот'.
Common Mistakes
- Using 'flip-flop' in formal writing without quotation marks or explanation. Treating the footwear term as singular ('a flip-flop') is less common than the plural ('flip-flops').
Practice
Quiz
In which context is the word 'flip-flop' MOST informal?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, it is predominantly informal. In formal writing, alternatives like 'reversal', 'about-face', or 'policy change' are preferred, especially for the political sense.
Yes, commonly so, especially in political journalism (e.g., 'He flip-flopped on the issue').
They are very similar synonyms in the political sense. 'U-turn' might imply a single major reversal, while 'flip-flop' can imply repeated or indecisive changes.
Assuming it has a direct, literal translation. The footwear sense and the political sense require different, established translations in the target language.
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