flop

Inf. a piece of cow manure. The pioneers didn't have much wood, so they burned dried cow chips. How did that big ol' cow pie get in the middle of my flower bed? Tom slipped on a cow patty.

[for something] to turn around awkwardly; [for a fish out of water] to squirm and flap. The hose flopped around, throwing water first this way and then that, knocking down plants as it flopped. A number of fish flopped around in the bottom of the boat.

to be a failure in a particular aspect of something in one's life or career. He flopped as an actor. I don't want to flop as a public speaker.

to sit down heavily or awkwardly. Be graceful. Don't just flop down! When I reached the chair, all I could do was flop down.

[for someone] to fall or drop into something, such as bed, a chair, a bathtub, etc. Maggie flopped into the chair and slipped off her shoes. Tom flopped into bed and fell fast asleep.

to turn someone or something over, awkwardly or carelessly. They flopped the unconscious man over, searching for his identification. They flopped over the injured man.

to drop or slap something down on something. She flopped the liver down on the cutting board. She flopped down the raw meat.

a complete change, especially from one decision or opinion to another The government has made a policy flip-flop over arms sales. (American)

Also, do a flip-flop or one-eighty . Reverse one's opinion or course of action. For example, The board did an about-face on acquiring more land, or We expected Dad to do a flip-flop concerning our vacation plans, or They had relied on Jim to vote for Harry, but he did a one-eighty and cast his vote for the incumbent . The first term, alluding to the army command to turn around, dates from the first half of the 1900s, and the variants from the second half of the 1900s (the last refers to a 180-degree change of direction).