“Catch you on the flip side” is an example of a colloquial saying originating from mainstream media (most notably the music industry). Nowadays, though not as common as it used to be, it still has a use, so let’s find out what that use is and when you can use it.
What Does “Catch You On The Flip Side” Mean?
“Catch you on the flip side” means to see you later or is a way of saying goodbye. The implication is that the two people will meet again though no one knows when that might be. For example, “catch you on the flip side, when all this blows over!”
If we refer to The Urban Dictionary definition, we can see that “catch you on the flip side” means “see you later” or “talk to you soon.” That’s the most common way that people will use the phrase in common English.
You also don’t have to rely on that one spelling and variation. There are plenty of other variations you can use.
- See you on the flipside
- Catch ya on the flip side
- I’ll catch you on the flip side
- Catch me on the flip side
- Catch you on the flip
How To Use “Catch You On The Flip Side” In A Sentence (12 Examples)
Now that we’ve seen the meaning explanation and a few usable variations, it’s time to look at the phrase in action. We can write “catch you on the flip side” in many ways, so we thought we’d include some examples to showcase this.
- If you don’t hear from me after this, I guess I’ll catch you on the flip side!
- Hey man! Catch ya on the flip side!
- Catch you on the flip side when this all blows over.
- Good luck with your new job, mate! Catch you on the flip!
- I told you that we’d catch each other on the flip side!
- You caught me on the flip side. I wasn’t expecting to see you again!
- When you get a minute, catch me on the flip side! It’ll be nice to hear from you again.
- Catch us on the flip side if you think you can handle us.
- Catch you on the flip side when I’m through with this!
- See you later, man! Or, as a wise man once told me, catch you on the flip!
- Have a great day! Catch you on the flip side!
- I’ll catch ya on the flip side when you’re ready to talk some more.
Generally, we use this slang phrase when we’re saying goodbye to someone with the intention of seeing them again. The situation that we say something like this in can make the phrase very dependent. But what do we mean by that?
Well, let’s say someone is about to do something dangerous that could end badly. In this case, the “flip side” to them might mean the “afterlife” if it was to go wrong.
Similarly, no matter what the situation is in the context, the “flip side” refers to a place or time when everything in the current situation blows over. If someone gets a new job, the “flip side” is when two former colleagues meet again after a few months in different workplaces. If you have a task to complete, the “flip side” is simply the time when you’ve completed that task.
The “flip side” usually implies a different time or place to the current one referenced in a sentence.
What Does It Mean When A Guy Says Catch You On The Flip Side To A Girl?
If a guy says “catch you on the flip side” to a girl, the context is very important if you want to understand the meaning.
Generally, a guy will say it when they’re interested in seeing the girl again. It’s usually a positive thing to hear, so you should be thrilled if you’ve heard a guy say it to you. Since it typically means “see you again soon,” the guy that says it is interested in seeing you again.
Of course, this isn’t always the case, which is why we said that the context makes it very important. If you’ve done something to upset a guy, they may say, “catch you on the flip side.” In this case, the “flip side” refers to a time period where they’re no longer upset with you, but it’s used sarcastically if you ever hear it in this way.
Generally, a guy won’t say something like this to you and will instead use a more up-to-date saying like “see you later” or “look forward to seeing you again.” However, if you do hear it, you usually don’t have to overthink the meaning as it’s almost always a good one.
Origin Of Catch You On The Flip Side
The origin of “catch you on the flip side” came from disc jockeys (or DJs as they’re commonly known). It holds a firm root in the musical industry. While today we play music through streaming apps, once upon a time, we used something called a vinyl record.
A vinyl record was basically a big CD. It was black and had small circular dents inside them to allow for a DJ’s deck to scratch across the surface and play the music that it contained. Every vinyl record had two sides – Side A and Side B.
Generally, side A contained the more popular song. Music producers would ask DJs to promote their songs by focusing their attention on playing side A at music gigs and venues. It was encouraged to dance and sing along to these tunes, as they were the more prominent tunes from well-known bands and artists.
Who Said Catch You On The Flip Side?
The DJ would often say something to the extent of “catch you on the flip side” once they let their first song on side A playthrough. Generally, this playthrough would be uninterrupted, and many people would sing and dance, which didn’t allow the DJ to say anything else (hence the phrase).
After the first song had played through, the DJ might go on to say something like “now for the flip side” and turn the record upside-down to play the second song.
The song on side B was usually less well-known and not as popular. However, it still got played to encourage the audience to explore new sounds and songs while listening and partying.
This introduction of the flip side mechanic led to the evolution of the quote we know and love today.
The “flip side” of the record usually meant a slightly different song with a different feel and a different beat. That’s why the “flip side” in the saying always talks about the next meeting place being slightly different from the current one.
Catch You On The Flip Side Movie Quote
Even in mainstream media and movies, you’ll find the saying used fairly often.
Take a look at this example from The Boondock Saints in 1999. The meaning in this scene was exactly the same as the meaning we’ve been using throughout the whole article.
It’s great to see it used in this way because it gives us a more realistic approach to using the phrase in an everyday situation.
Is Catch You On The Flip Side An Idiom?
“Catch you on the flip side” is known as a slang saying, which also makes it appropriate to call it an idiom.
An idiom is a phrase or group of words with a specific meaning. However, the words in the idiom won’t have the same meaning if they’re all viewed as individual words.
That’s why it’s good to know what “catch you on the flip side” means. However, if we broke the saying down and used each word individually, we’d see how they all mean something different.
For example, “catch” most commonly means to intercept or hold something, while “flip” on its own is seen as a sudden movement to turn something over.
Is It Catch You On The “Flipside” Or “Flip Side”?
When we use the phrase, it’s most common to write it with a space between “flip” and “side.” However, you can also write it as “flipside” to the same effect.
Both words are the same, though they’re written differently. Most people prefer to use “flip side” as two words rather than one. The meaning doesn’t change depending on which one you use, though, so don’t worry about making a mistake with one over the other.
Synonyms For Catch You On The Flip Side
Finally, let’s look at some good alternatives or synonyms for “catch you on the flip side.” That way, if you don’t want to use the more colloquial saying, you can use one of these to the same effect.
- Catch you later
We’re still using “catch” here as a verb, but the implication is the same. In this case, “catch” directly translates to mean “see.”
- See you on the other side.
This phrase means the same thing, although we’re using “other” instead of “flip.” Both phrases have the same origin, though.
- In a while, crocodile.
This is a common saying that’s been around for generations that means we’ll see someone in a little while.
Martin holds a Master’s degree in Finance and International Business. He has six years of experience in professional communication with clients, executives, and colleagues. Furthermore, he has teaching experience from Aarhus University. Martin has been featured as an expert in communication and teaching on Forbes and Shopify. Read more about Martin here.
