Skip to main content
to flump down

to flump down

7.5
To sit or fall down suddenly and heavily, often because you are tired
  • phrasal verb
  • /flʌmp daʊn/
  • Informal
translation icon : dejarse caer
  • The dog flumped down next to me, ready for a nap after playing in the park.

Examples

  • He flumped down onto the grass, feeling exhausted after the hike.

  • By noon, they are so roly-poly they don't even head for the brush to shade up; they simply flump down in the open meadow.

    Fiction book (1993)
  • After a long day, she flumped down on the sofa and sighed with relief.

Synonyms

to slump
vsto flump down
55 4.0

To sit down or fall forward suddenly and heavily

highlights relaxed exhaustion rather than a bent or drooping posture
to flop
vsto flump down
26 2.3

To fall or sit down heavily and suddenly because you are tired

shows relaxed exhaustion rather than simply heavy movement
to plunk down
vsto flump down
  • Informal
6 6.7

To put something down so it makes a noise or to pay money quickly

is more about relaxed collapse than sudden noisy placement
to plump
vsto flump down
1 4.1

To sit or drop down heavily and suddenly

clarifies relaxed collapse rather than just noisy dropping
to plonk down
vsto flump down
  • UK
1 7.6

Sit or put something down heavily and carelessly

focuses on tired relaxation rather than mere carelessness
to flump
vsto flump down
  • Informal
8.8

To fall or put something down heavily so it makes a dull sound

sits or falls in a relaxed or exhausted way rather than focusing on sound
to plump down
vsto flump down
  • UK
6.0

To sit down suddenly in a heavy, relaxed way

emphasizes relaxed exhaustion more than simple carelessness
to land on one's tush
vsto flump down
  • Baby Talk
9.3

To fall or sit down suddenly and hit your bottom

stresses relaxed sitting rather than the specific buttocks landing

Antonyms

1.0

To be or put something in an upright position

How Heavy

to collapse
579 3.9
to slump
55 4.0
to flump down
  • Informal
7.5
to sink
358 1.0
to sit down
1.0

Surface Forms

flump down infinitive
flumped down past participle
flumping down present participle
flumps down third person singular

Morphology

flump + down

The meaning 'to sit or fall heavily and suddenly' follows directly from combining 'flump' (to drop or set down heavily) with 'down' (to a lower position/direction). This verb + particle composition is a standard, compositional English pattern, so a B1 learner who knows both constituents should be able to infer the MWE's meaning.

Etymology

Flump down likely comes from the soft, heavy sound flump makes when something drops into cushions and the word down meaning 'to a lower place'. Imagine collapsing into a chair with a quiet, heavy plop; that's why flump down means 'to sit or fall heavily and suddenly', often because you are tired.