flip away

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "flip away" is not commonly used in written English and may not be widely understood.
It could be used in contexts where something is being turned or moved away quickly, but it may require additional context for clarity. Example: "He decided to flip away the old magazine that had been collecting dust on the shelf."

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

11 human-written examples

"The smaller they get, the more frequently they flip away.

The New York Times

[1] A classic example of the old "Don't flip away, we may show a map any second now" scam.

The New York Times

It is unclear if Boeckman will flip away the clipboard and retake the field at Ohio State again.

The New York Times - Sports

Two Democratic Congressional candidates in the Miami area — Joe Garcia and Raul Martinez — were added last month to the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee's list of potential "red to blue" conversions, bringing to 37 the number of seats nationally that the Democrats hope to flip away from the Republicans.

The New York Times - Magazine

"I think I'm finally going to have my Y2K troubles: next month I'm going to crash," predicts Ms. Lee, 30, whose job as executive director of NYC 2000, the $5 million citywide celebration that has milked the millennium's festive possibilities for the last two years, is a quick calendar flip away from extinction.

The New York Times

In 1845, Portland, Oregon was only a penny flip away from being called Boston.

BBC

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

49 human-written examples

Damon flipped away his glove in disgust, but there was nothing he could do to erase the damage.

The New York Times - Sports

It all seemed a bit much, and by the time Fox's cameras flipped away, Weatherford was still running around the field on his own.

The New Yorker

In this high-tech, freewheeling world of diverse lifestyles and entertainment options, sports have become a reflection of fans flipping away at home to their heart's content.

The New York Times - Sports

Thankfully, it missed, sparing me the chore of flipping away every time it came on television, and worse still, of knowing it was out there, smug and self-satisfied, waiting for me on YouTube.

The New Yorker

But it was another of those now familiar nights when the occasional chances – the Marouane Fellaini header into the turf from Mata's corner which Diego Benaglio comfortably flipped away – needed to be converted because they were few and far between.

Independent

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "flip away", ensure the context clearly indicates a quick, often dismissive movement or action. Consider the formality of your writing; in formal contexts, more precise verbs might be preferable.

Common error

Avoid using "flip away" in formal reports or academic papers. More precise verbs like "discard", "dismiss", or "repel" often provide better clarity and maintain a professional tone.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "flip away" functions as a phrasal verb, indicating a quick, often dismissive, movement or action. As Ludwig AI suggests, its usage can vary from physically moving objects to describing abstract dismissals. The examples provided show a range of contexts, from tossing aside a glove in disgust to describing a structural element in molecular biology.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

35%

Science

33%

Wiki

13%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "flip away" is a phrasal verb indicating a quick action of moving or dismissing something. As Ludwig AI states, the phrase is not the most common. While grammatically acceptable and appearing in diverse contexts like news, science, and how-to guides, it tends to be neutral to informal. For formal writing, more precise alternatives like "discard", "dismiss", or "flick away" may be more suitable. Usage analysis reveals that it's more frequently found in News & Media and Science, and less common in Formal & Business contexts.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

flick away

Highlights a quick, light movement to remove something.

toss aside

Implies discarding something with a quick, dismissive gesture.

cast off

Suggests a more forceful and deliberate act of throwing something away.

wave off

Focuses on dismissing something with a hand gesture.

brush aside

Indicates ignoring or dismissing something as unimportant.

turn away

Emphasizes the act of averting or redirecting something.

shove aside

Implies forcefully pushing something out of the way.

push away

Suggests a more general action of creating distance.

slap away

Implies a forceful and often defensive action.

knock aside

Suggests displacing something with a sudden impact.

FAQs

What does "flip away" mean?

"Flip away" generally means to quickly move something, often with a dismissive or careless gesture. It can also mean to switch something to another state or position.

What can I say instead of "flip away"?

You can use alternatives like "toss aside", "flick away", or "brush aside" depending on the context.

How do I use "flip away" in a sentence?

You can use "flip away" to describe someone quickly discarding an object, or a mechanism that quickly moves something out of the way. For example, "He flipped away the magazine" or "The lens cover flips away when the camera turns on".

Is "flip away" formal or informal?

"Flip away" leans towards the informal side. In formal contexts, consider using alternatives like "discard", "dismiss", or "repel" for greater precision and professionalism.