flop

Word Origin & History

c.1600, probably a variant of flap with a duller, heavier sound. Sense of "fall or drop heavily" is 1836, that of "collapse, fail" is 1919; though the figurative noun sense of "a failure" is recorded from 1893. Related: Flopped; flopping.

Example Sentences forflop

It was because as a manager of his financial affairs Dorothy was a flop.

She looks at it once, and begins to flop her arms and take on again.

But somehow, Mrs. Bob continued to flop the broken wing, and to elude them.

At this he spread out his arms and dropped them with a flop upon his knees.

Sim could not swim, and he began to flop about in the wildest and most unreasonable manner.

But except for that—if Flop hadn't got frightened, it would be nice, wouldn't it?

I can't think why you flop about so helplessly, like a bit of seaweed.

Your flop in the bed sounded as though you were a real mermaid!

Don't let him flop, though, or he'll lick all the blacking off your boots.

I remember now; you started as an ultra-Calvinist, and came over with a flop.

flop

fail

failed

fails

failure

failures

fall

falls

false step

flop

More words related to flop