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Meaning & use

flip side

noun, phrase·Everydayinformal

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UK/ˈflɪp saɪd/
US/ˈflɪp ˌsaɪd/

Meanings

  1. nounsingular

    The opposite or contrasting aspect of a situation, especially a drawback that comes with an advantage.

    Grammar: Almost always the flip side of something.

    Patterns

    • the flip side of something
    • on the flip side

    The flip side of working from home is that it's hard to switch off.

    Cheap flights are great, but the flip side is long layovers.

    Fame has a flip side: you lose your privacy.

  2. nounsingularmusicold-fashioned

    The reverse side of a vinyl record, which holds a different song from the main one.

    Grammar: Older, music-related use.

    Patterns

    • the flip side of a record

    The single's flip side became a surprise hit.

    He played the flip side of the record to find a quieter track.

    Collectors search for singles whose flip side features rare songs.

  3. phrasefixed phraseinformal

    Used as 'on the flip side' to introduce a contrasting point in a discussion.

    Grammar: Starts a sentence or clause: on the flip side, it is cheaper.

    Patterns

    • on the flip side

    On the flip side, living downtown means higher rent.

    On the flip side, the job pays very well.

    I'm tired, but on the flip side I finished early.

Word forms

pluralflip sides

Common combinations

the flip side of
The flip side of success is pressure.
on the flip side
On the flip side, the car is cheap to run.
the flip side of the coin
Higher pay is attractive, but long hours are the flip side of the coin.
see the flip side
Try to see the flip side before you decide.
a flip side to
There's a flip side to every bargain.

Synonyms and how they differ

downside
Downside names only the negative side, while flip side simply means the contrasting side, which may be good or bad.
other side
Other side is more neutral and plain, whereas flip side sounds casual.
reverse
Reverse is more formal and often physical, as in the reverse of a coin.
drawback
A drawback is specifically a disadvantage, but a flip side can be the opposite view of any matter.

Opposites

upside

Word family

flip verb
to turn over
flip noun
a quick turn over
flipside noun
an alternative spelling written as one word

Commonly confused: flip side or downside?

flip side vs downside

A downside is only the bad part, but a flip side is the contrasting part, which can be either good or bad.

Practice

'Living by the sea is lovely, but the ___ is the constant noise from seagulls.' Which fits best?

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