Flap vs. Flip — What's the Difference?
By Urooj Arif & Fiza Rafique — Updated on April 3, 2024
Flap refers to a swinging or waving motion, often back and forth, like a bird's wings during flight. Flip involves turning something over quickly or somersaulting, emphasizing rapid motion or change in position.
Difference Between Flap and Flip
Table of Contents
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Key Differences
Flapping involves a movement that is typically back and forth, often seen in the context of wings or similar structures. It is a motion that is generally repetitive and can be used to describe both natural and mechanical movements. For example, birds flap their wings to achieve lift and maintain flight. On the other hand, flipping refers to a quick rotation or turnover of an object or body around an axis. This action can result in a complete 180-degree or 360-degree change in orientation, such as flipping a pancake in a pan or performing a flip in gymnastics.
Flap can also denote a piece of material attached on one side, swinging or hanging loosely. Such flaps are common in clothing, bags, or parts of machinery, where they cover an opening or provide some form of protection or functionality. Meanwhile, flip can signify the act of turning something over to reveal the other side, as in flipping a page in a book or flipping a coin. The emphasis here is on the swift or skilled movement that changes the object’s position or state.
In the animal kingdom, flapping is a motion crucial for the flight of birds and some insects. It is a controlled movement that allows these creatures to navigate through the air, adjust their speed, and maneuver. Conversely, the concept of flipping is seen in acrobatic movements of animals, such as dolphins performing flips in the water, showcasing agility and sometimes playfulness or communication.
Technology and machinery adopt the term flap in contexts such as the flaps on an airplane's wings, which adjust during takeoff and landing to control lift and speed. These devices move in a controlled manner to alter the aircraft's aerodynamics. Flip, in a technological sense, might be used to describe the action of switching a device on or off with a toggle or pressing a button, indicating a quick change in state or mode.
Social and cultural contexts also differentiate these terms. To "flip out" means to react in an extreme or unexpected manner, often due to stress or excitement, highlighting a sudden change in emotional state. There is no direct social equivalent for flap in this context, but "flapping" could colloquially refer to someone moving their hands or arms in a state of agitation or excitement, focusing more on the physical expression than the emotional shift.
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Comparison Chart
Definition
A swinging or waving motion, often repetitive
Turning something over quickly or rotating it
Common Usage
Movement of bird wings, material pieces
Somersaulting, turning objects over
Physical Context
Winged animals flying, loose materials on objects
Acrobatic movements, quick orientation changes
Technological Use
Airplane wing adjustments, protective coverings
Switching devices or modes, quick state changes
Emotional/Social
Can imply agitation through hand movements
Sudden emotional reactions or decisions
Movement Direction
Generally back and forth or side to side
Around an axis, often resulting in a 180/360 degree turn
Speed/Control
Controlled, sometimes slower, to achieve specific motion
Rapid, often requiring skill or force
Function
Often for lift, movement, or covering
Change in state, orientation, or position
Compare with Definitions
Flap
To move or wave back and forth with a fluttering motion.
The curtains flap in the breeze coming through the open window.
Flip
To turn over quickly or suddenly.
Flip the steak to cook it evenly on both sides.
Flap
A piece of material attached on one side, often hanging loosely.
The tent's flap kept opening in the wind, letting in cold air.
Flip
A somersault or acrobatic leap, especially one turning over in the air.
The gymnast executed a perfect flip on the mat.
Flap
To become agitated or flustered.
She would often flap her hands when overwhelmed with excitement.
Flip
Pressing a switch to change the state of a device.
Flip the light switch when you enter the room.
Flap
A hinged or movable section of an aircraft wing used to control lift.
The pilot adjusted the flaps for landing.
Flip
To buy and sell something, such as property or stocks, quickly to profit.
He's made a business out of flipping houses.
Flap
The action birds or insects take to move their wings up and down for flight.
The eagle's powerful flaps propelled it high into the sky.
Flip
To change rapidly or unexpectedly.
The mood in the room can flip from calm to chaotic in seconds.
Flap
(of a bird) move (its wings) up and down when flying or preparing to fly
Gulls flapped around uttering their strange cries
A pheasant flapped its wings
Flip
To throw or toss with a light brisk motion
Flipped the ball to the pitcher.
Flap
Be agitated or panicky
It's all right, Mother, don't flap
Flip
To toss in the air, imparting a spin
Flip a coin.
Flap
A thin, flat piece of cloth, paper, metal, etc. that is hinged or attached on one side only and covers an opening or hangs down from something
The flap of the envelope
He pushed through the tent flap
Flip
To cause to turn over or around, especially with a light quick motion
Flip over a card.
Flipped the pancake with a spatula.
Flap
An act of flapping something, typically a wing or arm, up and down or from side to side
The surviving bird made a few final despairing flaps
Flip
To turn through (papers, for example); leaf
Flipped the pages of the report.
Flap
A state of agitation; a panic
Your Gran was in a flap, worrying she'd put her foot in it
Flip
To strike quickly or lightly; flick
Flipped me on the shoulder with his finger.
Flap
A large broad mushroom.
Flip
To move or act on with a quick motion
Flip a switch.
Flipped open her briefcase.
Flap
A type of consonant produced by allowing the tip of the tongue to strike the palate very briefly.
Flip
To change or reverse (one's position or attitude).
Flap
A projecting or hanging piece usually attached to something on one side and often intended to protect or cover
The flap of an envelope.
Flip
To buy and resell (a house, for example) in a short period of time for a profit.
Flap
Either of the folded ends of a book jacket that fit inside the front and back covers.
Flip
To turn over from one side to another or end over end
The canoe flipped over.
Flap
A variable control surface on the trailing edge of an aircraft wing, used primarily to increase lift or drag.
Flip
To turn a somersault, especially in the air.
Flap
(Medicine) A piece of tissue that has been partially detached and used in surgical grafting to fill an adjacent defect or cover the cut end of a bone after amputation.
Flip
To move up and down in twists and turns
Fish flipping about in the net.
Flap
The act of waving or fluttering
The flap of the flag in the wind.
Flip
To move quickly and lightly; snap
The lid flipped open.
Flap
The sound produced by this motion.
Flip
To leaf; browse
Flipped through the catalogue.
Flap
(Linguistics) A sound articulated by a single, quick touch of the tongue against the teeth or alveolar ridge, as (t) in water. Also called tap1.
Flip
To change one's mind, especially on a political position.
Flap
(Informal) A commotion or disturbance
A flap in Congress over the defense budget.
Flip
To go crazy.
Flap
(Archaic) A blow given with something flat; a slap.
Flip
To react strongly and especially enthusiastically
I flipped over the new car.
Flap
To move (wings or arms, for example) up and down.
Flip
A flick or tap.
Flap
To cause to move or sway with a fluttering or waving motion
The wind is flapping the tent fly.
Flip
A short, quick movement
A flip of the wrist.
Flap
To cause to strike against something
Flapped the paper on the table.
Flip
A somersault.
Flap
To move wings or the arms up and down.
Flip
(Informal) A reversal; a flipflop.
Flap
To fly by beating the air with the wings
The crow flapped away.
Flip
A mixed drink made with any of various alcoholic beverages and often including beaten eggs.
Flap
To move or sway while fixed at one edge or corner; flutter
Banners flapping in the breeze.
Flip
Marked by casual disrespect; impertinent
A flip answer to a serious question.
Flap
Anything broad and flexible that hangs loose, or that is attached by one side or end and is easily moved.
A flap of a garment
The envelope flap seemed curiously wrinkled.
Flip
A maneuver which rotates an object end over end.
We'll decide this on a flip of a coin.
The diver did a couple of flips before landing in the pool.
Flap
A hinged leaf.
The flaps of a table
The flap of a shutter
Flip
A complete change of direction, decision, movement etc.
Flap
(aviation) A hinged surface on the trailing edge of the wings of an aeroplane, used to increase lift and drag.
Flip
(archaic) A fillip or light blow.
Flap
A side fin of a ray.
Flip
(dated) A whit or jot; the tiniest amount.
I don't care a flip for what he says.
Flap
The motion of anything broad and loose, or a sound or stroke made with it.
The flap of a sail
The flap of a wing
Flip
A slingshot.
Flap
A controversy, scandal, stir, or upset.
The comment caused quite a flap in the newspapers.
Flip
A hairstyle popular among boys in the 1960s–70s and 2000s–10s, in which the hair goes halfway down the ears, at which point it sticks out
Justin Bieber and Zac Efron are among the celebrities who wore a flip.
Flap
(phonetics) A consonant sound made by a single muscle contraction, such as the sound /ɾ/ in the standard American English pronunciation of body.
Flip
(informal) The purchase of an asset (usually a house) which is then improved and sold quickly for profit.
Flap
(surgery) A piece of tissue incompletely detached from the body, as an intermediate stage of plastic surgery.
Flip
The tendency of a gun's barrel to jerk about at the moment of firing.
Flap
The labia, the vulva.
Flip
A mixture of beer, spirit, etc., stirred and heated by a hot iron (a "flip dog").
Flap
(obsolete) A blow or slap (especially to the face).
Flip
(transitive) To throw so as to turn over.
You need to flip the pancake onto the other side.
Flap
(obsolete) A young prostitute.
Flip
(transitive) To put into a quick revolving motion through a snap of the thumb and index finger.
If you can't decide which option to go for, flip a coin.
Flap
(transitive) To move (something broad and loose) up and down.
The crow slowly flapped its wings.
Startled, the wood pigeon flew off, its wings flapping noisily.
Flip
To win a state (or county) won by another party in the preceding elections.
Wisconsin had been Democratic for decades, but the Republicans flipped it in 2016.
Flap
(intransitive) To move loosely back and forth.
The flag flapped in the breeze.
Flip
To turn state's evidence; to agree to testify against one's co-conspirators in exchange for concessions from prosecutors.
The mafioso flipped on his superiors to get a lighter sentence.
Flap
Of a resource or network destination: to be advertised as being available and then unavailable (or available by different routes) in rapid succession.
Flip
To induce someone to turn state's evidence; to get someone to agree to testify against their co-conspirators in exchange for concessions.
The district attorney was able to strengthen his case against the bank robber by flipping the getaway driver.
Flap
Anything broad and limber that hangs loose, or that is attached by one side or end and is easily moved; as, the flap of a garment.
A cartilaginous flap upon the opening of the larynx.
Flip
To go berserk or crazy.
I'd flip if anyone broke my phone.
Flap
A hinged leaf, as of a table or shutter.
Flip
To buy an asset (usually a house), improve it and sell it quickly for profit.
Flap
The motion of anything broad and loose, or a stroke or sound made with it; as, the flap of a sail or of a wing.
Flip
To refinance (a loan), accruing additional fees.
Flap
A disease in the lips of horses.
Flip
To invert a bit (binary digit), changing it from 0 to 1 or from 1 to 0.
Flap
A movable part of an airplane wing, used to increase lift or drag, especially when taking off or landing. used often in the plural.
Flip
To hand over or pass along.
Flap
To beat with a flap; to strike.
Yet let me flap this bug with gilded wings.
Flip
To switch to another task, etc.
Flap
To move, as something broad and flaplike; as, to flap the wings; to let fall, as the brim of a hat.
Flip
Having the quality of playfulness, or lacking seriousness of purpose.
I hate to be flip, but perhaps we could steal a Christmas tree.
Flap
To move as do wings, or as something broad or loose; to fly with wings beating the air.
The crows flapped over by twos and threes.
Flip
Sarcastic.
Flap
To fall and hang like a flap, as the brim of a hat, or other broad thing.
Flip
(informal) Disrespectful, flippant.
Don't get flip with me or I'll knock you into next Tuesday!
Flap
Any broad thin and limber covering attached at one edge; hangs loose or projects freely;
He wrote on the flap of the envelope
Flip
A mixture of beer, spirit, etc., stirred and heated by a hot iron.
Flap
An excited state of agitation;
He was in a dither
There was a terrible flap about the theft
Flip
To toss (an object) into the air so as make it turn over one or more times; to fillip; as, to flip up a cent.
As when your little onesDo 'twixt their fingers flip their cherry stones.
Flap
The motion made by flapping up and down
Flip
To turn (a flat object) over with a quick motion; as, to flip a card over; to flip a pancake.
Flap
A movable piece of tissue partly connected to the body
Flip
To cause (a person) to turn against former colleagues, such as to become a witness for the state, in a criminal prosecution in which the person is a defendant.
Flap
A movable airfoil that is part of an aircraft wing; used to increase lift or drag
Flip
To resell (an asset) rapidly to make a quick profit.
Flap
Move in a wavy pattern or with a rising and falling motion;
The curtains undulated
The waves rolled towards the beach
Flip
To become insane or irrational; - often used with out; as, seeing her mother killed made the girl flip out.
Flap
Move noisily;
Flags flapped in the strong wind
Flip
An acrobatic feat in which the feet roll over the head (either forward or backward) and return
Flap
Move with a thrashing motion;
The bird flapped its wings
The eagle beat its wings and soared high into the sky
Flip
Hot or cold alcoholic mixed drink containing a beaten egg
Flap
Move with a flapping motion;
The bird's wings were flapping
Flip
The act of flipping a coin
Flap
Make a fuss; be agitated
Flip
A dive in which the diver somersaults before entering the water
Flap
Pronounce with a flap, of alveolar sounds
Flip
(sports) the act of throwing the ball to another member of your team;
The pass was fumbled
Flip
Lightly throw to see which side comes up;
I don't know what to do--I may as well flip a coin!
Flip
Cause to go on or to be engaged or set in operation;
Switch on the light
Throw the lever
Flip
Look through a book or other written material;
He thumbed through the report
She leafed through the volume
Flip
Toss with a sharp movement so as to cause to turn over in the air
Flip
Cause to move with a flick;
He flicked his Bic
Flip
Throw or toss with a light motion;
Flip me the beachball
Toss me newspaper
Flip
Move with a flick or light motion
Flip
Turn upside down, or throw so as to reverse;
Flip over the pork chop
Turn over the pancakes
Flip
Go mad, go crazy;
He flipped when he heard that he was being laid off
Flip
Reverse (a direction, attitude, or course of action)
Flip
Marked by casual disrespect;
A flip answer to serious question
The student was kept in for impudent behavior
Common Curiosities
Are flips in gymnastics and diving the same?
The basic concept is similar, but the techniques and execution can vary significantly due to the medium (air vs. water).
Can all birds flap their wings?
Most birds flap their wings for flight, but some, like penguins, have adapted wings for swimming rather than air flight.
Can flipping an object refer to anything other than physical rotation?
Yes, it can also imply changing the state or perspective on something, such as flipping a concept or idea.
Is flipping always a physical movement?
While often physical, flipping can also refer to quick changes in state, situation, or emotion.
Can flapping be effective underwater?
Certain aquatic animals flap parts of their bodies for movement, but the motion differs from aerial flapping.
How does flapping contribute to an aircraft's flight?
Flaps on aircraft wings help manage lift and speed, especially during takeoff and landing, but they do not flap in the way birds' wings do.
Can flipping be beneficial in sports other than gymnastics?
Yes, flips are used in sports like diving and freestyle skiing for both functional and aesthetic purposes.
Is the flapping motion used in any machinery besides aircraft?
Yes, machinery that mimics natural movements, like certain types of drones, may use flapping mechanisms for propulsion.
Can humans naturally flap to achieve flight?
No, humans cannot achieve flight through flapping motions like birds or insects due to anatomical differences.
Do flips require special skills?
Yes, performing flips typically requires physical skill, practice, and sometimes acrobatic training.
What is the purpose of flaps on airplane wings?
They are used to control the plane's lift and speed, particularly during takeoff and landing phases.
Does the flap of a tent serve a specific purpose?
Yes, it provides access and ventilation while also offering protection from the elements when closed.
Are there electronic devices that flip or flap?
Some devices, like flip phones, feature a flipping action, but electronic devices do not typically flap.
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Written by
Urooj ArifUrooj is a skilled content writer at Ask Difference, known for her exceptional ability to simplify complex topics into engaging and informative content. With a passion for research and a flair for clear, concise writing, she consistently delivers articles that resonate with our diverse audience.
Co-written by
Fiza RafiqueFiza Rafique is a skilled content writer at AskDifference.com, where she meticulously refines and enhances written pieces. Drawing from her vast editorial expertise, Fiza ensures clarity, accuracy, and precision in every article. Passionate about language, she continually seeks to elevate the quality of content for readers worldwide.
