the.com/flipflop
the world's most relaxed footwear, engineered entirely around two onomatopoeic syllables of sound
means A simple open sandal held on by a thin strap that passes between the big and second toes, worn loosely so it slaps the sole as you walk; also, by extension, a sudden reversal of opinion or position.
from Pure onomatopoeia — the word imitates the floppy slap-slap the sandal makes against your heel and the ground with each step. It entered English in the mid-20th century, and the doubled, reversed sound (flip… flop) carries its own little echo of indecision, which is why the same word came to describe someone who keeps changing their mind. The repeated reversing sound was around long before the shoe: 'flip-flap' for a flapping motion is much older, with 'flip-flop' the slightly springier cousin.
- ancient origins
- Egyptians wore versions over 6,000 years ago
- global toll
- thousands trip on stairs in them yearly
- toe risk
- podiatrists blame them for plantar fasciitis
- economic index
- Brazil's Havaianas became a worldwide status flex
- naming
- called thongs in Australia, jandals in New Zealand
john kerry 2004 election — senator reversed position on iraq war funding, saying 'i actually did vote for the $87 billion before i voted against it'
mitt romney healthcare — governor created massachusetts mandate in 2006, later opposed federal mandate as presidential candidate 2012
donald trump trade policy — promised tariffs on china 2016, then negotiated phase one deal 2020, reversed again 2024