/ slæp; NAmE / verb , noun , adverb
■ verb ( -pp- ) [ vn ]
1.
to hit sb/sth with the flat part of your hand
SYN smack :
She slapped his face hard.
She slapped him hard across the face.
'Congratulations!' he said, slapping me on the back.
2.
[ vn + adv. / prep. ] to put sth on a surface in a quick, careless and often noisy way, especially because you are angry :
He slapped the newspaper down on the desk.
She slapped a $10 bill into my hand.
3.
[ v + adv. / prep. ] to hit against sth with the noise of sb being slapped :
The water slapped against the side of the boat.
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PHRASAL VERBS
- slap sb about / around
- slap sb/sth down
- slap sth on sb/sth
- slap sth on sth
- slap sth on sth | slap sth on
■ noun
1.
[ C ] the action of hitting sb/sth with the flat part of your hand :
She gave him a slap across the face.
He gave me a hearty slap on the back.
2.
[ sing. ] the noise made by hitting sb/sth with the flat part of your hand; a similar noise made by sth else :
the gentle slap of water against the shore
3.
[ U ] ( BrE , informal ) = make-up (1)
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IDIOMS
- slap and tickle
- a slap in the face
- a slap on the wrist
■ adverb (also ˌslap ˈbang ) ( informal )
1.
straight, and with great force :
Storming out of her room, she went slap into Luke.
2.
exactly :
Their apartment is slap bang in the middle of town.
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WORD ORIGIN
late Middle English (as a verb): probably imitative. The noun dates from the mid 17th cent.