lip out: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C2Semi-technical (sports), metaphorical, informal
Quick answer
What does “lip out” mean?
(of a golf ball) to roll around the rim of the hole but fail to drop in.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
(of a golf ball) to roll around the rim of the hole but fail to drop in.
To narrowly miss or be unsuccessful, especially in a frustrating manner where success seemed imminent; often used figuratively outside golf to describe any close failure.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
The term originates from and is most common in American English, especially in its literal golfing sense. In British English, the term is understood primarily in golf contexts and its figurative use is less established, often considered an Americanism.
Connotations
In both varieties, it connotes frustration and misfortune. In AmE, it can be used more broadly for any near-miss.
Frequency
High frequency in American sports journalism and commentary (golf); low to medium frequency in general AmE; low frequency in BrE outside of golf reporting.
Grammar
How to Use “lip out” in a Sentence
SUBJECT (ball/putt) + lip outlip out + of + HOLE/CUPlip out + on + the edge/rimVocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “lip out” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- His birdie attempt lipped out agonisingly.
- It looked good all the way, but it lipped out at the last second.
American English
- She couldn't believe her six-footer lipped out.
- The ball lipped out and cost him the tournament.
adverb
British English
- Not standard adverbial use.
- Not standard adverbial use.
American English
- Not standard adverbial use.
- Not standard adverbial use.
adjective
British English
- He suffered a lip-out defeat in the final.
- The lip-out putt was replayed on the highlights.
American English
- It was a brutal lip-out bogey.
- He's still thinking about that lip-out shot from last year.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
(Figurative) 'The merger deal lipped out at the final negotiating session.'
Academic
Rare. Potentially in sports science or probability studies describing near-miss events.
Everyday
(Figurative) 'I almost won the lottery—my numbers lipped out!'
Technical
Primarily in golf commentary, analysis, and rulebooks describing ball behavior on the green.
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “lip out”
- Using it as a transitive verb (e.g., 'He lipped out the putt' – incorrect). It is intransitive. Confusing it with 'flip out' (to become angry).
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, but it's an extended metaphorical use. In basketball, one might say a shot 'lipped out' if it circles the rim and doesn't go in, though 'rim out' is more common.
It is strictly intransitive. The subject is the ball or the putt (e.g., 'The ball lipped out'), not the player.
The nominalized form is 'lip-out' (often hyphenated), as in 'He suffered a heartbreaking lip-out on the 18th green.'
In its literal golf sense, it is standard, technical vocabulary. Its figurative use is informal and colloquial, suitable for conversation and informal writing but not for formal academic or business prose.
(of a golf ball) to roll around the rim of the hole but fail to drop in.
Lip out: in British English it is pronounced /ˌlɪp ˈaʊt/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˌlɪp ˈaʊt/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “It was a cruel lip-out.”
- “The putt did a 360 and lipped out.”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine a ball doing a full lap (LIP) around the rim of a cup, then deciding to go OUT instead of in.
Conceptual Metaphor
SUCCESS IS CONTAINMENT (in the hole); FAILURE IS EXCLUSION (from the hole). A LIP-OUT is a FAILURE ON THE THRESHOLD.
Practice
Quiz
In which context is 'lip out' used MOST literally?