flopping

Flopping is a term used in several contexts, all related to a falling or revealing action. In poker, flopping refers to the display of the three community cards—the flop—after the initial deal and betting. These cards are dealt face up and are shared by all players, shaping subsequent strategy and hand evaluation. A hand is said to have “flopped” when the flop gives a player a made hand or a draw, such as a pair, two pair, a straight, or a flush. The flop stage is followed by further betting rounds on the turn and river, and players must consider how the board texture and opponents’ ranges interact.

In sports, particularly basketball, “flopping” describes the act of exaggerating contact to draw a foul or penalty. It is a form of simulation used to gain an advantage and is widely debated for fairness. Some leagues impose penalties for egregious flopping.

In entertainment and media, “flop” or “flopping” is used to describe a work that fails commercially or critically. A film, game, or show that performs poorly at release is called a flop; the gerund form is less common in technical writing but appears in commentary.

Etymology: The word flops traces to senses of falling or lying flat, and in card games it generalized to the act of revealing the three community cards on the table.