flop
gb/flˈɑp/ us/flˈɑp/
A2
English
~ 2000
Senses
0 senses
Noun
B1
entity
1
A complete failure
Something that fails completely and is not liked or successful.
Usage pattern:
[something] is a flop
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse 'flop' with 'drop' because they sound similar, but 'drop' means to let something fall, not to fail.
Synonyms
failure (General term for lack of success without the informal tone of 'flop'.)
Antonyms
success (Represents a positive outcome, opposite of failure.)
Collocations
box-office flop
|huge flop
|total flop
|film flop
|project flop
Themes
entertainment
|business
|daily life
|arts_entertainment
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- The movie was a huge flop at the box office.
- His latest business venture turned out to be a flop.
- The concert was such a flop that the band lost money.
Learner examples
- The new movie was a flop.
- Her plan was a flop.
- The party was a flop and no one came.
Verb
B1
action
2
To fail completely
To fail very badly at something.
Usage pattern:
to flop [at/in something]
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes use 'flop' for small mistakes, but it usually refers to complete failures.
Synonyms
fail (More general and formal; 'flop' is more informal and vivid.)
Antonyms
succeed (Means to achieve the intended result, opposite of failing.)
Collocations
flop badly
|flop completely
|flop at the box office
Themes
entertainment
|business
|daily life
|work
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- The play flopped after only one week on stage.
- His new app flopped despite heavy advertising.
- She flopped in her attempt to win the competition.
Learner examples
- The show flopped after one week.
- The game flopped because it had many bugs.
- His store flopped and closed soon.
Verb
A2
action
3
Fall or drop heavily
To fall or sit down in a heavy and loose way.
Usage pattern:
to flop [down/onto something]
Common mistake:
Learners may confuse 'flop' with 'drop'; 'drop' is usually for objects, while 'flop' often describes people or animals moving heavily.
Synonyms
collapse (Implies falling down suddenly, often from tiredness or weakness; 'flop' suggests looseness and heaviness.)
Antonyms
rise (Means to move upward from a position, opposite of falling down.)
Collocations
flop down
|flop onto the bed
|flop into a chair
Themes
movement
|daily life
|daily_life
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- He flopped onto the couch after work.
- The fish flopped around on the deck.
- She flopped down next to him with a sigh.
Learner examples
- He flopped onto the sofa.
- The tired dog flopped on the floor.
- She flopped into the chair.
Noun
B2
event
4
Heavy loose fall or sound
The sound or action of something falling in a heavy and loose way.
Synonyms
thud ('Thud' is more general for dull heavy sounds; 'flop' suggests looseness.)
Collocations
with a flop
Themes
movement
|daily_life
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- He sat down with a flop.
- The book hit the floor with a flop.
- She landed on the bed with a flop.
Learner examples
- He sat with a flop.
- The shoe fell with a flop.
- She dropped into the chair with a flop.
Grammar
Dictionary form
flop
IPA
GB/flˈɑp/
US/flˈɑp/
Syllables & stress
flop (1 syllable)
Stress on 1st syllable (flop)
Word forms
Noun
- Base: flop
- Plural: flops
Verb
- Base: flop
- 3rd Person Singular: flops
- Present Participle: flopping
- Past: flopped
Word family
Forms
flops
noun
flopping
verb
flopped
verb
Related words
floppy
adjective B1
Highlights
- Irregular present participle: flopping Verb
- Irregular past: flopped Verb
Expressions
flip-flop
1/flˈɪp flˈɑp/
fixed phrase
Sudden change of opinion
To change your opinion or decision to its opposite quickly.
Examples
- The politician was criticized for his flip-flop on climate policy.
- Her sudden flip-flop about the project confused everyone.
flop around
1/flˈɑp ɚˈaʊnd/
phrasal verb
Move loosely and uncontrolled
To move in an uncontrolled and loose way in different directions.
Examples
- The fish flopped around on the dock.
- He was flopping around in bed all night.
flop down
1/flˈɑp dˈaʊn/
phrasal verb
Sit or lie down heavily
To sit or lie down in a heavy and loose way because you are tired or relaxed.
Examples
- She flopped down on the sofa after work.
- He came in and flopped down beside me.
belly flop
1/bˈɛli flˈɑp/
fixed phrase
informal
jump into water flat on belly
To jump into water and hit it flat with your belly, which usually hurts.
Examples
- He tried to dive but ended up doing a painful belly flop.
- The crowd laughed when she did a huge belly flop off the board.
- As a kid, he learned to swim after too many belly flops.
belly flop
2/bˈɛli flˈɑp/
fixed phrase
Painful flat stomach dive into water
When you jump into water and land flat on your stomach, making a big splash and feeling pain.
Examples
- He did a belly flop into the pool by mistake.
- Her belly flop made everyone laugh.