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Glite Dictionary
to flip-flop on issues

to flip-flop on issues

1 8.2
To change opinions or promises about important matters often without a clear reason
  • phrasal verb
  • /flɪp flɑp ɑn ˈɪʃuz/
  • Literature
translation icon : cambiar de opinión
  • He flip-flopped on issue after issue.

Examples

  • His well-documented record of flip-flops on issues adds to the public's distrust.

    Blog text (4)

  • Voters are frustrated because the senator frequently flip-flops on issues, making it hard to trust his commitments.

  • Many people believe that a politician who flip-flops on issues is not reliable and should not hold office.

  • The debate became heated as the candidate's flip-flopping on issues raised questions about his integrity and values.

Synonyms

to flip-flop
vsto flip-flop on issues
  • Literature
23 5.3

To suddenly change your opinion or decision

is the phrase form used about important matters causing distrust
to vacillate
vsto flip-flop on issues
8 8.1

To be unable to decide and keep changing between choices

leans more toward causing confusion by repeated public changes
to do an about-face
vsto flip-flop on issues
  • Informal
3 6.6

To suddenly change your opinion or plan to the opposite

occurs suddenly but usually as a single reversal rather than repeated changes
to oscillate
vsto flip-flop on issues
3 7.4

Change repeatedly between different opinions or choices

focuses more on frequent back-and-forth changes that harm trust
to turn with every wind
vsto flip-flop on issues
9.3

Change opinions often to fit new people or situations

is similar but stresses loss of trust from frequent shifts
to wabble
vsto flip-flop on issues
9.9

To be unsure and change your mind often

is stronger and often implies public shifts that reduce trust
to turn one's coat
vsto flip-flop on issues
8.5

Change which person or group you support for your own benefit

focuses on frequent changes causing distrust, not only self-serving switches

Antonyms

to persist
62 3.7

To keep doing something or keep holding a belief despite difficulty

How Often

to flip-flop on issues
  • Literature
1 8.2
to vacillate
8 8.1
to reconsider
227 3.7

Surface Forms

flip-flop on issues infinitive
flip-flopped on issues past
flip-flopped on issues past participle
flip-flopping on issues present participle
flip-flops on issues third person singular

Morphology

flip-flop + on + issue

The verb 'flip-flop' already conveys 'to change or reverse one's opinion or policy frequently', and the prepositional phrase 'on issues' simply specifies the domain. The overall meaning is directly compositional and follows a straightforward verb + preposition + noun pattern, so a B1 learner who knows the constituent words will understand it.

Etymology

Flip-flop on issues comes from the image of a simple sandal called a 'flip-flop' that makes a quick flip and flop movement, changing direction easily. So when a person flip-flops on an issue, they move back and forth and 'change their opinion', which can make others feel confused or think they are 'not reliable'.