backflip

From back- +‎ flip.

• IPA^(key): /ˈbæk.flɪp/

• Audio (Southern England):

  (file)

backflip (plural backflips)

1. (gymnastics) An act of rotating one's body 360 degrees in the backward direction.

   Hyponym: 360 backflip

   Coordinate terms: backbend, frontflip

   The gymnast performed a backflip on a trampoline.

2. (by extension) A total reversal in policy or opinion.

   Synonyms: flip-flop, volte-face, U-turn

   Near-synonyms: backtrack, backpedaling

   • Courier Mail, 29 Jan 2007

     PM predicts water recycling backflips

• 360 backflip

• frontflip

backflip (third-person singular simple present backflips, present participle backflipping, simple past and past participle backflipped)

1. To perform a backflip (rotation of body).

   Coordinate terms: backbend, frontflip

2. To completely reverse a policy or opinion; perform a U-turn.

   Synonyms: flip-flop, U-turn

   Coordinate term: dial back

   Near-synonyms: backtrack, backpedal, walk back

• backflipper