Unflipping

Part of speech: adjective

Definitions

1. A mild, informal intensifier used for emphasis or to express irritation, as in a euphemistic substitute for a stronger expletive
2. Used as a milder swear-word substitute to add emphasis or show exasperation before an adjective or noun
3. An informal euphemistic expletive inserted before a word to intensify it and convey annoyance or strong feeling

Etymology: "Unflipping" is a euphemism built from the verb "flip," used here as a mild stand-in for a stronger word. The prefix "un-" is an English formation, and "flip" entered the language as an imitative word for a light, quick movement. Put together, "unflip" was used as a playful, slightly censored way of saying a harsher word, and "unflipping" carries that same softened tone as an adjective. What can be said is that the word belongs to the family of minced oaths, the deliberately altered swear words that let speakers express irritation without using the full taboo term.