flap one's jaws

present singular third person flaps one's jaws · participle present flapping one's jaws · participle past flapped one's jaws · past flapped one's jaws · alternative flap one's jaw

1. UScolloquialSynonym of flap one's gums.

   When it is lunchtime in Tokyo, it is 11 P.M. at the Credit Lyonnais trading desk in New York. The four traders on duty are flapping their jaws like auctioneers on a record-breaking day.

   1991 May 19, Mary Billard, “The Executive Life: Trouble Sleeping? Call a 24-Hour Trading Desk”, in The New York Times, New York, N.Y.: The New York Times Company, →ISSN, →OCLC, archived from the original on 25 May 2015

   3 more examples

   Coach Henry Bibby flapped his jaws with the wonderful wind of sarcasm. “UCLA has five NBA players in their lineup,” he said, smiling. “Maybe we shouldn’t even be on the floor with them. Maybe they can say what they want to say.”

   1997 February 18, Bill Plaschke, “‘Just USC’ Takes That J.R. Shot to Heart”, in Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles, Calif.: Los Angeles Times Communications, →ISSN, →OCLC, archived from the original on 17 Jun 2024

   And how much does it cost to remove the cataracts? Surgery ranges from $1,500 to $3,500, according to Dr. Sherry Berger, a canine eye surgeon. […] While that might be a good bit of change for you and me, it’s nada for a guy pulling down an estimated 12 million big ones for flapping his jaws in front of fawning corporate types.

   2002 June 22, Linda Stasi, “Why Donna’s Biting Back Big at Rudy”, in New York Post, New York, N.Y.: News Corp, →ISSN, →OCLC, archived from the original on 20 Jun 2026

   But when a scanner determined the tickets were counterfeit, and he and girlfriend Crystal English were turned away, Sacca began flapping his jaws. “Do you know who I am?” Sacca thundered repeatedly, according to an eyewitness, a Broadway theater worker who requested anonymity.

   2016 May 22, Melkorka Licea, “Billionaire throws tantrum over counterfeit ‘Hamilton’ tickets”, in New York Post, New York, N.Y.: News Corp, →ISSN, →OCLC, archived from the original on 22 May 2016

   Synonyms: flap one's gums