# slap

/ˈsɫæp/ (US) · /slˈæp/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/slap
Updated: 2026-06-20

## Senses

### 1. to hit with a palm

verb · CEFR B1

to hit someone or something with the flat part of your hand.

For teachers: to strike with the open hand or with something flat. Transitive when directed at a person or object.

- She was so angry that she almost slapped him across the face.
- The waves slapped rhythmically against the side of the wooden boat throughout the night.

### 2. to put down carelessly

verb · CEFR B2 · Informal

to put something down quickly or without being careful.

For teachers: to place or apply something with force or a lack of precision. Often used with 'on' or 'down'.

- He just slapped a coat of paint on the wall and called it finished.
- The editor slapped a sensationalist headline on the article to ensure it would go viral by morning.

### 3. to be excellent

verb · CEFR C1 · Slang

to be very good or impressive, especially used when talking about music.

For teachers: to be of exceptionally high quality or to have a powerful impact. Intransitive and stative in this sense.

- Have you heard the new album? The bass line on the first track really slaps.
- While the lyrics are somewhat repetitive, the production on this track absolutely slaps in a club environment.

### 4. a blow

noun · CEFR B1

a hit with an open hand, or the sound that a hit like that makes.

For teachers: a blow delivered with the open hand or a flat object; also the sharp, percussive sound resulting from such an impact.

- The slap was so loud that everyone in the quiet room turned to look.
- He felt the sting of the slap on his cheek long after the argument had ended.

### 5. makeup

noun · CEFR C2 · British English · Informal

a casual word for makeup or cosmetics.

For teachers: makeup or cosmetics. Primarily used in British English in informal contexts.

- Wait a minute, I just need to put some slap on before we go out.
- She arrived at the party wearing a thick layer of slap that made her almost unrecognisable to her colleagues.

### 6. exactly

adverb · CEFR C1 · Informal

exactly or directly in a certain place.

For teachers: directly, precisely, or squarely. Often used in the phrase 'slap bang'.

- The new hotel is slap in the middle of the city's historic district.
- The arrow landed slap in the centre of the target, much to the surprise of the amateur archer.

### 7. excellent

adjective · CEFR C1 · British English · Slang

very good or amazing.

For teachers: an intensifying adjective meaning excellent or impressive.

- That was a slap meal we had last night.
- The band put on a slap performance that left the audience demanding three encores deep by midnight.

## Examples

- This new song really slaps.
- I didn't expect much from a fast-food burger, but this secret sauce really slaps.
- While the lyrics are somewhat repetitive, the heavy bass line and the crisp production make the entire track slap in a club environment.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.