flop

Everyday

1. To flop is to fall or sit down heavily and loosely, because you are tired. tree →
2. To flop is to hang down loosely. tree →
3. A flop is something that fails completely, like a film nobody watches. tree →
4. To flop is to fail. tree →

In the lessons

In everyday life tired children flop onto the sofa after school. In stories plans and shows flop. In science a fish flops on the deck out of water. Phrases: flop down, flop onto, a total flop, flip-flops (sandals), belly flop (a dive landing on your tummy).

Examples

• I flopped onto my bed after the race. tree →
• The puppy's ears flop over its eyes. tree →
• The new film was a flop. tree →
• Our cake flopped and went flat. tree →
• The fish flopped about on the boat. tree →
• He did a belly flop into the pool. tree →
• She wore flip-flops to the beach. tree →
• Flop! and the frog appeared out of the water close beside him. tree →

Note

Double the p: flopped, flopping. Informal word. Adjective: floppy (soft and hanging). A flop means the opposite of a hit or success.