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View synonyms for

slap

1

[ slap ]

noun

  1. a sharp blow or smack, especially with the open hand or with something flat.
  2. a sound made by or as if by such a blow or smack:

    the slap of the waves against the dock.

  3. a sharply worded or sarcastic rebuke or comment.


verb (used with object)

slapped, slapping.
  1. to strike sharply, especially with the open hand or with something flat.
  2. to bring (the hand, something flat, etc.) with a sharp blow against something.
  3. to dash or cast forcibly:

    He slapped the package against the wall.

  4. to put or place promptly and sometimes haphazardly (often followed by on ):

    The officer slapped a ticket on the car. He slapped mustard on the sandwich.

adverb

  1. Informal. directly; straight; smack:

    The tug rammed slap into the side of the freighter.

verb phrase

    1. to subdue, especially by a blow or by force; suppress.
    2. to reject, oppose, or criticize sharply:

      to slap down dissenting voices.

slap

2

[ slap ]

noun

  1. a gap or opening, as in a fence, wall, cloud bank, or line of troops.
  2. a mountain pass.
  3. a wound or gash.

verb (used with object)

slapped, slapping.
  1. to make a gap or opening in; breach.

slap

/ æ /

noun

  1. a sharp blow or smack, as with the open hand, something flat, etc
  2. the sound made by or as if by such a blow
  3. a sharp rebuke; reprimand
  4. a bit of slap and tickle or slap and tickle informal.
    sexual play
  5. a slap in the face
    an insult or rebuff
  6. a slap on the back
    congratulation
  7. a slap on the wrist
    a light punishment or reprimand
“Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged” 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

verb

  1. tr to strike (a person or thing) sharply, as with the open hand or something flat
  2. tr to bring down (the hand, something flat, etc) sharply
  3. whenintr, usually foll by against to strike (something) with or as if with a slap
  4. informal.
    tr to apply in large quantities, haphazardly, etc

    she slapped butter on the bread

  5. slap on the back
    to congratulate
“Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged” 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

adverb

  1. exactly; directly

    slap on time

  2. forcibly or abruptly

    to fall slap on the floor

“Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged” 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
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Derived Forms

  • ˈ, noun
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Other Word Forms

  • p noun
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Word History and Origins

Origin of slap1

First recorded in 1625–35; from Low German slapp(e); of expressive origin

Origin of slap2

First recorded in 1400–50; Middle English slop(e) “inroad made into enemy ranks,” from Middle Dutch or Middle Low German; cognate with German Schlupf “hiding place”
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Word History and Origins

Origin of slap1

C17: from Low German slapp, German Schlappe, of imitative origin
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Idioms and Phrases

Idioms
  1. slap on the wrist, relatively mild criticism or censure:

    He got away with a slap on the wrist.

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Synonym Study

See blow 1.
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Example Sentences

Examples have not been reviewed.

“We are tired of abusers getting slapped on the wrist. Animal cruelty needs to be taken more seriously, with harsher penalties.”

From

Another said he slapped her and poured vodka on her head.

From

Yet it was “Sinners” that got slapped with an asterisk.

From

Or after a two-year doping scandal, unnecessary egg slap and a criticised weight agreement, should we move on from this family feud?

From

But the bloodline rivalry, doping scandal and egg slap all led to their sons, nobody else, standing face-to-face inside a boxing ring.

From

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Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.

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