Dictionary Definition
slap
Noun
1 a blow from a flat object (as an open hand)
[syn: smack]
2 the act of smacking something; a blow delivered
with an open hand [syn: smack, smacking] adv : directly; "he
ran bang into the pole"; "ran slap into her" [syn: bang, slapdash, smack, bolt] v : hit with something flat,
like a paddle or the open hand; "The impatient teacher slapped the
student"; "a gunshot slapped him on the forehead" [also: slapping, slapped]
User Contributed Dictionary
English
Etymology
Uncertain, probably from imitative origin.Pronunciation
- /slæp/
- Rhymes with: -æp
Noun
Translations
A blow
The sound of such a blow
Verb
- To give a slap.
- To cause something to strike soundly.
- To place, to put carelessly.
Translations
To give a slap
- Albanian: backos
- Dutch: meppen, kletsen
- Finnish: läimäyttää, läpsäyttää, läpäyttää, läpsäistä
- French: gifler (slap in the face)
- Kurdish: ,
To cause something to strike soundly
- Finnish: mätkäyttää, läpsäistä, mätkäistä
To place, to put carelessly
- Dutch: neerkwakken
- Finnish: lyödä, mätkäyttää
Bosnian
Noun
slap s (p: slapovi)Croatian
Noun
slap s (p: slapovi)Dutch
Adjective
slapSerbian
Noun
slap s (p: slapovi)Cyrillic spelling
Spanish
Extensive Definition
A slap or "smack" is a broad stroke made with the
open hand, as opposed to a punch that
is made with a closed fist. Slaps are frequently made across the
face, but can be also made across hands or any other body part, and
can use either the palm of the hand or the back of the hand.
Etymology
The word was first recorded in 1632, probably of imitative origin. The word is found in several English colloquialisms, such as, "slap-happy," "slapshot," "slapstick," "slap on the wrist," (as a mild punishment) "slap in the face," (as a reproof) and "slap on the back" (an expression of friendship or congratulations). In music, the term is used in jazz, referring to the action of pulling strings back and allowing them to smack the instrument.In humans
The purpose of a slap is often to humiliate, instead of injure, the target. In many films and television programs, such as a film even titled Slap Her... She's French, girls and women typically slap boys and men or even female rivals who offend them in some way, as occasionally occurs in real life. Studies show it to be used more in female acts of violence than male acts, males using different methods.In animals
Beavers slap their tails on the water as a danger signal. Female fish of the gambusia genus will slap males with their tail fins if they are over-aggressive in mating. Dolphins have been observed to slap the surface with their tails, possibly to express aggression or sexual impulses. Humpback whales will slap their tails on the surface as a warning. They have also been known to slap attacking killer whales with their tails to keep them away. Males use their tails to slap other male humpbacks in mating contests.See also
References
External links
- How to Execute a Bitch Slap by Todd Wentworth
- When You Make a Lasting Impression by Stephanie Mencimer - a Washintgton Post article arguing for increased use of face slapping by women against men who make unwanted advances a la former President Bill Clinton on Kathleen Willey
slap in French: Claque
slap in Hebrew: סטירה
slap in Japanese: 平手打ち
slap in Yiddish: פראסק
Synonyms, Antonyms and Related Words
Parthian shot, abruptly, altogether, attack, back answer, bang, bash, bat, beat, biff, blip, blow, box, box the ears, buffet, bump, burst, bust, cast, castigate, caustic remark,
censure, chop, chuck, clap, clash, clear, clout, comeback, completely, contumely, crack, crash, criticism, crump, cuff, cut, cutting remark, dash, despite, dig, ding, directly, drub, dump, entirely, exactly, flap, flay, fleer, fling, flop, flout, foolery, fully, gibe, gibing retort, go, hastily, haymaker, hit, hurl, impetuously, impulsively, indignity, insult, jab, jape, jeer, jest, knock, lash, leg-pull, like a flash, like
a thunderbolt, mock, of a
sudden, on short notice, parting shot, perfectly, plank, plop, plumb, plump, plunk, point-blank, poke, pop, precipitantly, precipitately, precipitously, precisely, punch, put-down, put-on, quip, quite, rap, rebuff, rebuke, report, reprimand, reproof, right, rude reproach, scathe, scoff, score, scourge, scurrility, sharp, short answer, shot, slam, slap on, slap the face,
slash, slat, sling, smack, sock, spank, splash, splat, squarely, stab, stagger, startlingly, straight, strike, stripe, sudden, suddenly, surprisingly, swap, swat, swipe, tap, taunt, throw, thrust, thwack, token punishment,
toss, try, twit, unawares, unexpectedly, utterly, verbal thrust, wallop, whack, wham, whap, whip, whirl, whomp, whop, without notice, without
warning