Etymology From Middle English slappen, of uncertain origin, possibly imitative. Compare Low German Slappe (“slap”), whence also German Schlappe (“defeat”). Compare also Italian sleppa (“slap”).
1
A blow, especially one given with the open hand, or with something broad and flat.
He gave me a friendly slap on the back as a sign of camaraderie.
2
A sharp percussive sound like that produced by such a blow.
the slap of my feet on the bathroom tiles
3
Entertainment, Lifestyle, Music The percussive sound produced in slap bass playing.
Havens goes into the terrific Freedom for an encore, which will turn out to be a highlight of the movie; its chopped guitar and conga slaps pre-empt late 90s R&B.2019 August 15, Bob Stanley, “'Groovy, groovy, groovy': listening to Woodstock 50 years on – all 38 discs”, in The Guardian:
Well, she schlumphed her Vera down the screech at a rate of knots, zhooshed up the riah, checked the slap in the mirror behind the bar, straightened up one ogle fake riah that had come adrift, and bold as brass orderlied over as fast as she could manage in those bats and, in her best lips, asked, if she could parker the omi a bevvy.1997, James Gardiner, Who's a Pretty Boy Then?, page 123:
If you had too much slap on when you went out . . . your mates say too much slap on your ecaf. Yeah. Oh really girl? Yes . . . Go in the lavs here and have a look.Quoted in 2006, Matt Houlbrook, Queer London (page 151)
[…] which seek to retake public space for their own expression, using graffiti, stickering, 'slaps' and street art to dissent from the commercialisation of the public sphere.2019, Saskia Hufnagel, Duncan Chappell, The Palgrave Handbook on Art Crime, page 859:
Etymology From Middle English slappen, of uncertain origin, possibly imitative. Compare Low German Slappe (“slap”), whence also German Schlappe (“defeat”). Compare also Italian sleppa (“slap”).
To strike someone, typically with an open hand, often on the face.
She slapped him in response to the insult.
2
To cause something to strike soundly.
He slapped the reins against the horse's back.
3
To strike soundly against something.
The rain slapped against the window-panes.
Mrs. Flanders rose, slapped her coat this side and that to get the sand off, and picked up her black parasol.1922 October 26, Virginia Woolf, chapter 1, in Jacob’s Room, Richmond, London: […] Leonard & Virginia Woolf at the Hogarth Press, →OCLC; republished London: The Hogarth Press, 1960, →OCLC:
4
Slang, Stative To be excellent, especially when relating to music.
African-American Vernacular
The band's new single slaps.
There are some cinematic elements, but at the end of the day, the album fucking slaps.2019, “Glass Battles”, in PT Music Watch, number 1, page 35:
4 more examples
Also I will never get tired of the song "Motion Sickness" by Phoebe Bridgers. Shit slaps.2019 April, Gloria Perez, “Your Things”, in Your Mag, page 74:
2016's 'Girls Like Me' still slaps to this day.2019 November, Elly Watson, “The Great 2019 Debate”, in DIY, page 59:
Extremely stupid but extremely catchy, with the squelchiest synth I’ve ever heard, it slaps in the simplest way a song can slap.2025 December 25, Claire Biddles, “Paranoia, pop-dubstep and perfectly odd gems: the best old music we discovered this year”, in The Guardian, →ISSN, La Bionda – One for You, One for Me (1978):
And yes, some characters are trapped in a room filling with yoghurt. But despite our misgivings, this show still absolutely slaps[.]2025 December 26, Stuart Heritage, “Stranger Things season five vol 2 review – the fact that this isn’t unbearable is a miracle”, in The Guardian, →ISSN:
5
To place, to put carelessly.
We'd better slap some fresh paint on that wall.
Louise Belcher: "On Monday there was supposed to be some big schoolboard inspection or something, so instead of cleaning the place up, what does the principal do? He panics. He and the janitor and the janitor's brother slap a wall where the door used to be." Gene Belcher: "Wall slap."2018, “The Secret Ceramics Room of Secrets”, in Bob's Burgers:
As part of Switzerland's direct democratic system, voters will also be weighing in on whether to slap new taxes on the super-rich to help finance the country's effort against climate change.2025 November 27, “Swiss to vote on compulsory civic duty for all”, in France24 News:
With no drums, Black began slapping his bass to keep time while Moore's guitar leaped in and out of the melody line.2007, Jon Paulien, The Gospel from Patmos:
Etymology From Middle English slappen, of uncertain origin, possibly imitative. Compare Low German Slappe (“slap”), whence also German Schlappe (“defeat”). Compare also Italian sleppa (“slap”).
1
Exactly, precisely
He tossed the file down slap in the middle of the table.
You just take my orders, Cap’n Hawkins, and we’ll sail slap in and be done with it.1881–1882, Robert Louis Stevenson, Treasure Island, London; Paris: Cassell & Company, published 14 November 1883, →OCLC:
1 more example
They called the tom-cat to the trap, / Who molrowed as he smelt at the door, O— / Opened his mouth and swallowed him slap, / All the while most profanely he swore, O!1864, Tony Pastor, John F. Poole, Tony Pastor's Complete Budget of Comic Songs, page 63:
Etymology From Middle English slappen, of uncertain origin, possibly imitative. Compare Low German Slappe (“slap”), whence also German Schlappe (“defeat”). Compare also Italian sleppa (“slap”).