Skip to main content
Glite Dictionary
to flip the pancake

to flip the pancake

1 2.8
Turn a pancake over in the pan to cook the other side
  • phrasal verb
translation icon : dar la vuelta a la crepe
  • She ducked away from him and began to flip the pancakes.

Examples

  • When the edges of the pancake turn golden, you should flip the pancake carefully.

  • She expertly flipped the pancake using a spatula to ensure it cooked evenly on both sides.

  • Once the surface of the pancake starts to bubble, it's time to flip the pancake over.

Synonyms

to flip
vsto flip the pancake
354 1.8

To turn or toss something quickly with a light hand movement

is performed while cooking to reverse food for even cooking on both sides
to flip over
vsto flip the pancake
41 2.5

Turn something so the side that was up is now down

is done during cooking to turn food and cook both sides evenly

Surface Forms

flip the pancake infinitive
flipped the pancake past
flipped the pancake past participle
flipping the pancake present participle
flips the pancake third person singular

Morphology

flip + the + pancake

The meaning 'to turn a pancake over in the pan' is directly and literally derivable from the constituent words 'flip' (to turn or flick) and 'pancake' (a thin fried cake); the definite article 'the' does not affect compositionality. This is a common, cross-linguistic cooking action pattern and follows ordinary verb + object composition, so a B1 learner who knows the words would readily understand the MWE.

Etymology

Flip the pancake comes from the kitchen action of using a quick movement to flip a pancake in the pan so it turns over and the other side cooks. That's why it means 'to turn a pancake over' to cook both sides.