English Words in Action, Group F

1. A sound made when someone, or something, suddenly falls, lies, or sits down: The book fell to the floor with a flop.
2. Something that is a failure, a non-starter, a wash out: Despite the positive critical reviews, commercially the new play was a flop.

1. To sit, or to lie down heavily in a sudden, awkward way by relaxing the muscles and letting the body fall: He flopped down onto the couch while she flopped into the stuffed chair with a sigh.
2. To move limply, or heavily; to swing and to move in a loose, awkward, or uncontrolled way: The curtains were flopping around in the breeze which was coming through the open windows.
3. To fail completely; to be completely unsuccessful: The play flopped, or bombed, and all of their attempts to set things right also flopped miserably.

1. A U.S. informal reference to a very inexpensive hotel for poor people who do not have anywhere else to live: The only place Kim and Tim could go for the night after the storm was the flophouse near where they used to live.
2. The British use a different term for a very cheap place to stay: In London, Bert only had enough money to stay at a doss-house.

A small, thin, square case with a flexible disk inside on which data for a computer can be stored: The computer technician received three floppies to use on his computer.

Soft and flexible: Jerry was wearing the floppiest hat that Marge had ever seen.

1. Things or people that have been discarded and cast aside and are considered to be useless and lacking any value: Jim's apartment was cleared of boxes and other flotsams.
2. Wreckage that is found floating on water; such as, the ocean: There was flotsam washing up on shore after a shipwreck had taken place.
3. Vagrant or unemployed persons who are constantly moving from one place to another one without any financial funds: For many years, cities around the world have had flotsams who have been begging for money during the day and sleeping in the backstreets at night. © ALL rights are reserved.

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1. A fast way of walking or moving which shows anger or annoyance: After Fay's criticisms, Rodney left the room with a flounce.
2. A strip or ruffle of cloth which is attached to a piece of clothing by one edge: Alisa's dress had so many flounces that she kept getting them caught on things.

Dena's gown had several flounces with tiers or rows of pink lace.

3. Etymology: this sense of flounce, referring to "a strip, a pleat" or "ruffle of fabric attached on one edge", did not appear in English until the 18th century; despite the fact that flounce came from the Middle English frouncen, "to curl" in the 14th century.

1. To walk with an exaggerated purpose, to storm out: The actress was so angry that she turned and flounced off the stage.

Fred's wife flounced around the house in a huff, yanking doors open and slamming them shut as she stomped from room to room.

2. To go with sudden determination or to move with exaggerated motions: The main dancer flounced off the stage with the other dancers who were flouncing off behind her in perfect unison.
3. Etymology: the information regarding "flounce" is mixed up and uncertain.

The verb's first recorded use in English took place in 1542, and some linguists say it is related to the Norwegian verb flunsa, "to hurry" or "to work briskly"; and Swedish flunsa, "to fall with a splash" or "to plunge".

Such relationships can not be verified because these flunsa verbs didn't appear in those languages until the 18th century, long after flounce was already used in English.

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1. An unexpected stroke of luck, a chance: By some fluke, although the judges thought someone else would win the swimming contest, they had to declare Cleo the winner.
2. Something surprising or unexpected that happens by accident: By a total fluke, Trudy passed her statistics examination and got a better grade than she had expected.
3. Part of an anchor, barb on a harpoon or arrow; part of a whale's tail: The fluke of the beluga created a big splash when it dived below the surface of the sea.
4. A flatfish; especially, a flounder: The fishermen were delighted with their catch of flukes which always sold well at the fish market. © ALL rights are reserved.

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1. A mannerism or an unusual habit or behavior that is considered strange or silly: Sally had the foible of checking to see if all the windows were closed in her apartment again before she left for work.
2. The minor weakness or deviation from what is regarded as normal in someone's character: Although Joan had her foibles, or shortcomings, her friends loved her for her generosity and positive attitudes.

One common foible that some people have is to remember only the pleasant things, or just the bad occurrences, that have taken place in their lives.

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1. To prevent a person from doing something or achieving an objective: The sheriff foiled the robber who was about to hold up the local bank.
2. To keep something from happening or from being successful: Slipping and falling down the stairs is foiling Sally's dreams of becoming a dancer because she severely injured the joints in her knees. © ALL rights are reserved.

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1. To introduce or to insert something secretly or without justification: After reading the contract for his new job carefully a second time, Timothy saw a provision which evidently had been foisted into it and which he had not seen before.
2. To force a person to accept something; especially, by deceit: A new tax increase was foisted on the citizens by the new administration of the government.
3. To pass off something as being genuine or worthwhile: The vendor on the street was foisting cheap watches to the tourists, which he said were made of gold and silver!
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1. To go or to come after or behind someone or something: Stanley followed his mother into the kitchen so he could get something to eat.

After the first sheep goes through the gate into the pen, the rest of them will follow.

Polly and Dina were sure that someone was following them last night as they were going to their car; so, they got in and drove away quickly before the person they thought was following them could get any closer.

2. To come after something in time or place or as part of a series: Manfred's auto accident was followed by a long period of recovery.

After the severe storm ended, it was followed by a long period of rebuilding the damaged buildings and infrastructures of the community.

3. To happen after and as a result of something or to be true, or seem to be true, because of an action: From the evidence presented in the trial, it followed that the accused was guilty.
4. To move forward on a road, a path, etc.: Tom said, "O.K. Jesse, follow that path and you will find the log cabin that you rented."

The road follows the river fairly closely.

5. To understand the sense or logic of something or someone: Sherry found it difficult to follow the logic of Alan's reasoning.

1. Anyone who supports and is guided by another person or by a group, religion, etc.: The politician's loyal followers gave him a lot of support.
2. Someone who does what another person, or other people say, should be done: Maribel had a tendency to be a follower and not a leader.

Immediately coming after something: Following the teacher's advice, Jacob improved his essay to such a degree that he received a grade of an "A".

Ted and his family were very tired for a few days following their two-week trip to France last month.