cow chip
slang A piece of cow feces. Watch out for cow chips when walking through that field. Of course there are cow chips everywhere—this is a farm, after all. On a hot day like this, the cow chips smell extra pungent. Whew!
cow flop
slang Cow feces. Watch out for cow flops when you're out by the barn. Of course there are cow flops everywhere—this is a farm, after all. On a hot day like this, the cow flops smell extra pungent. Whew!
do a 180
1. Literally, to begin moving in the opposite direction. (If one physically turns 180 degrees, one will then be facing the opposite direction.) I was going to go to the park, but when I saw those dark clouds roll in, I did a 180 and headed back home. Once I realized I was going the wrong way, I did a 180 at the next light. When I saw Mary in the hallway, I did a 180 and went back the way I came.
2. To make a big change in one's position, opinion, lifestyle, etc. A: "Can you believe that Sam quit his job at the firm?" B: "No, he really did a 180 on being a paralegal!" After a huge public outcry about the controversial program, the president quickly did a 180 and announced that he would not support the plan. The tech giant typically has unyielding success, but they did a major 180 with the disastrous unveiling of their latest gadget.
do a flip-flop
To completely change one's opinion or stance. After the candidate did a flip-flop on that important issue, many voters felt they could not trust him to stick with one position. I used to hold a staunch view about the case, but then I did a flip-flop after hearing the other side's testimony. You can't do a flip-flop and withdraw your support now—our organization was counting on your generous donation!
do an about-face
1. To turn around a full 180 degrees, especially very suddenly. She did an about-face and walked back up the steps once she saw that the subway wasn't running. I told you, you can't come downstairs until your room is clean. Do an about-face, go back up there, and get to work! I was going to go to the park, but when I saw those dark clouds roll in, I did an about-face and headed back home.
2. To completely reverse one's opinion, position, or course of action regarding some issue, especially very suddenly. The senator seems to have done an about-face on the tax proposal, much to the surprise of his party. Based on the reactions we got from test audiences, we need to do an about-face with the movie's plot. I highly doubt these new ads will make anyone do an about-face on their candidate of choice.
flip-flop
1. verb To completely change one's opinion or stance. Primarily heard in US. The voters were tired of hearing the candidate flip-flop and felt they could not trust him to stick with one position. I used to hold a staunch view about the case, but then I flip-flopped after hearing the other side's testimony. You can't flip-flop and withdraw your support now—our organization was counting on your generous donation!
2. noun A complete change in opinion or stance. There have been several flip-flops among the candidates during the campaign, with some changing their stance more than once! Wait, he's opposed to the war now? When did that flip-flop happen? Sir, the employees are going to be furious if you do a flip-flop on the Christmas bonus you promised them.
3. noun A thong sandal. Often used in the plural to refer to the pair. Don't forget your flip-flops when we go to the beach, or you'll have to walk on the hot sand barefoot! Well, I can't run out there barefoot! Give me a second to throw on some flip-flops or something! Who goes on a tropical vacation and forgets to pack flip-flops? Rookie mistake.
flop account
An Instagram account intended to facilitate discussion of a particular topic or range of topics (such as fandom, politics, or social issues), typically exclusively by teens, who often administer such accounts collaboratively. The term derives from the common practice of posting "flops," things presented for ridicule or criticism. More and more teens are turning to flop accounts to debate sensitive issues. I have my actual IG account, and then I have a flop account with a few of my friends, where we talk about all the cringe things going on in the fandom. Yeah, we have a flop account where we skewer tone-deaf celebrities.
flop around
To flail or otherwise move around awkwardly. He must be having a nightmare, judging by how he's flopping around in his bed. The fish flopped around on dry land. A: "What's happening? Why is she suddenly flopping around like that?" B: "I think she's having a seizure!"
flop as (something)
To fail in a particular role or pursuit. You have an angelic voice, so there's no way you'll flop as a singer! I flopped as a manager because I just couldn't seem to motivate my team. I always found her engaging online, so I'm shocked she flopped as a talk show host.
flop down
1. To fling or plop oneself down onto some surface or thing. I knocked a few pillows onto the floor when I flopped down on the couch. As soon as Paulina flopped down onto the bed with a big sigh, I knew that her date must not have gone well. The show had already started by the time we got there, so we hustled to our section and flopped down in our seats.
2. To plop something down onto some surface or thing. In this usage, a noun or pronoun can be used between "flop" and "down." Once I realized she was angry with me, I flopped her Valentine's present down and left. Whoa, that's an expensive mixer! Don't just flop it down on the counter! Ugh, who flopped down this stack of files on my desk?
flop down on(to) (something)
1. To fling or plop oneself down onto some surface or thing. I knocked a few pillows onto the floor when I flopped down on the couch. As soon as Paulina flopped down onto the bed with a big sigh, I knew that her date must not have gone well. Hey, don't just flop down onto a seat on the bus—make sure it's not wet first!
2. To plop something down onto some surface or thing. In this usage, a noun or pronoun can be used between "flop" and "down." Once I realized she was angry with me, I flopped her Valentine's present down on the table and left. Whoa, that's an expensive mixer! Don't just flop it down onto the counter! Ugh, who flopped this stack of files on my desk?
flop into (something)
To fling or plop oneself down into something. I knocked a few pillows onto the floor when I flopped into the armchair. Hey, don't just flop into a seat on the bus—make sure it's not wet first! The show had already started by the time we got there, so we hustled to our section and flopped into our seats.
flop over
To turn someone or something over roughly. A noun or pronoun can be used between "flop" and "over." As soon as the lifeguard flopped the boy over, he started coughing up water. Hey, don't just flop that over—it's breakable! Aw man, I cracked my phone's screen when I flopped it over like that.
flop sweat
informal Heavy perspiration caused by intense anxiety, embarrassment, or nervousness, especially related to the fear of public failure. I really wish I could do something to prevent this flop sweat every time I have to give a presentation in work. You could see the flop sweat on the poor guy's forehead as his jokes kept failing to land. Haley has a great voice, but she gets the flop sweats any time she has to sing in front of people.
flophouse
slang An inexpensive, shabby place of lodging. Ew, we can't stay in a flophouse like that, no matter how cheap it is. It's probably infested with bedbugs! Traveling on a really tight budget means staying in flophouses like this, unfortunately. This flophouse certainly isn't glamorous, but I thought you needed a place to sleep at a very affordable price.
get the flop sweats
informal To perspire heavily due to intense anxiety, embarrassment, or nervousness, especially related to the fear of public failure. I really wish I could do something so that I don't get the flop sweats every time I have to give a presentation in work. Haley has a great voice, but she gets the flop sweats any time she has to sing in front of people. Oh man, when my jokes don't land with an audience, I definitely start to get the flop sweats up there.
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms. © 2024 Farlex, Inc, all rights reserved.
cow chip
and cow pie; cow patty; cow flopInf. a piece of cow manure. The pioneers didn't have much wood, so they burned dried cow chips. How did that big ol' cow pie get in the middle of my flower bed? Tom slipped on a cow patty.
flop around
[for something] to turn around awkwardly; [for a fish out of water] to squirm and flap. The hose flopped around, throwing water first this way and then that, knocking down plants as it flopped. A number of fish flopped around in the bottom of the boat.
flop as something
to be a failure in a particular aspect of something in one's life or career. He flopped as an actor. I don't want to flop as a public speaker.
flop down
to sit down heavily or awkwardly. Be graceful. Don't just flop down! When I reached the chair, all I could do was flop down.
flop into something
[for someone] to fall or drop into something, such as bed, a chair, a bathtub, etc. Maggie flopped into the chair and slipped off her shoes. Tom flopped into bed and fell fast asleep.
flop someone or something over
to turn someone or something over, awkwardly or carelessly. They flopped the unconscious man over, searching for his identification. They flopped over the injured man.
flop something down on(to) something
and flop something downto drop or slap something down on something. She flopped the liver down on the cutting board. She flopped down the raw meat.
McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs. © 2002 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.