ping pong

plural ping pongs · alternative ping-pong · alternative pingpong

1. countableuncountableTable tennis.

   Our correspondent seems to hope that the unclean, playing Ping-Pong with the clean, will become unpleasantly conscious of his uncleanness and reform.

   1900, Daily Chronicle, published 1905, May 8, page 6/6

   Synonyms: flim-flam, whiff-whaff, gossima

2. countablefigurativelyuncountableAn instance of figuratively bouncing something or someone back and forth.

   To be conscious is to be subject to just such a ping-pong of recurring nervous activities that effect muscle tone on one side and brain discharge on the other.

   1909, Thaddeus L. Bolton, “On the Efficacy of Consciousness”, in Frederick James Eugene Woodbridge, Wendell T. Bush, editors, The Journal of Philosophy, Psychology and Scientific Methods, volume 6, New York: The Science Press, page 424

3. UKcountableuncountablegovernmentThe exchange of proposed amendments between the House of Commons and House of Lords, particularly at the end of a session when compromises have to be made to complete the legislative process within the limited time available.
4. countabledateduncountableA size of photograph a little larger than a postage stamp.

   As only bust or half-length figures are all the ping pong photographer attempts, only one or two small plain backgrounds is all that is necessary. Generally two are used, a light one and a dark one.

   1909, James Boniface Schriever, Commercial, press, scientific photography, page 401

5. countableuncountableentertainmentA small, shallow steelpan drum.

   Most ping pongs were 35- to 45-gallon drums. The larger drum had room for more notes; the tones were also louder and clearer and could be sustained longer.

   2012, Angela Smith, Steel Drums and Steelbands: A History, page 158

present singular third person ping pongs · participle present ping ponging · participle past ping ponged · past ping ponged · alternative ping-pong · alternative pingpong

1. intransitivetransitiveTo figuratively bounce or be bounced back and forth.
   1. intransitivetransitivemedicineTo refer (a patient) unnecessarily to a number of clinics or practitioners as a form of fraud.
2. intransitiveTo play the game of ping pong.