Flop
/flɒp/noun
To fall, drop, or land heavily; also, a complete failure.
Did you know?The word is probably imitative in origin, meaning it began as a sound-symbolic splash or thud word before becoming a verb for a heavy fall and then a metaphor for failure.
Etymological Timeline
Late 16th Century
English
flop
“A heavy fall, splash, or flapping drop; an imitative sound-word”
17th Century
English
flop
“To fall or drop heavily with a dull sound”
18th Century
English
flop
“To collapse or fall flat, especially suddenly or awkwardly”
19th Century
English
flop
“A failure, especially a theatrical or commercial one”
Modern English
English
flop
“To fail badly; to land or fall heavily; a complete failure”