I. ˈfläp verb
( flopped ; flopped ; flopping ; flops )
Etymology: alteration of flap (II)
intransitive verb
1.
a. : to move irregularly to and fro or up and down : flap
scarf flopping about her ears
the fledgling's wings flopped again and again but it could not get off the ground
b. : to move or drop with heavy clumsiness as if inert
flopped over on his other side for a last nap
c. : to strike about with something broad and flat
the fish flopped helplessly on the bank
d. : to progress by flopping
pelicans flopping across the sky
2.
a. : to throw oneself down heavily, clumsily, or in a completely relaxed manner
so tired that I flopped into the hammock without another word
b. slang : to dispose oneself for rest or sleep ; specifically : to go to bed
it's time to flop
3. : to change or turn suddenly (as from one course to another)
4. : to fail abysmally
anyone may flop once without disgrace
in spite of good reviews the show flopped
transitive verb
1. slang Britain : to strike especially heavily
flopped his rival on the head
2.
a. : to turn or drop suddenly and usually heavily or noisily
sat flopping the pages of the book
flopped her bundles on the table
b. : to settle (oneself) with a heavy clumsy movement : plump
flopped himself into a chair
flopped himself over without awaking
3.
a. : to make (as a photoengraving) or print (as a picture) so that an image appears with right and left sides transposed
b. : to reverse (as a two-color form) so that the colors are transposed
II. adverb
1. : right , just , exactly
fell flop on his face
jumped flop back into the hole
2. : with a sound of flopping
tumbled flop into the mud
III. noun
( -s )
1.
a. : an act or sound of flopping
the fish gave a flop and landed back in the water
squelched through the mud with loud flops at every step
b. : about-face : a sudden change (as of policy)
2.
a. : a sudden decline
stocks took a flop yesterday
: fall , collapse
b. : something that falls flat : fizzle , dud
everyone expected his new play to be a flop
c. : something or someone lacking success, effectiveness, or adequacy : failure
was a flop as a reporter
the new economic plan was a flop from the very beginning
3. slang : a place to sleep ; usually : a cheap rooming house or hotel catering to impoverished men or a bed in such a place — compare flophouse