on the flip side — conversely / introducing a contrasting point
expressionC1IELTS 7+neutraloccasional
Used to introduce a contrasting or opposite aspect of a situation, especially after mentioning one side or perspective.
Say it like a native
Textbook Conversely, from the opposing perspective, it could be argued to save money.
Native On the flip side, it actually saves you money.
'Conversely' plus 'opposing perspective' is redundant and formal; 'on the flip side' is the spoken contrast marker.
Pattern: Sentence 1. On the flip side, sentence 2.
In use
- Living in a big city can be exciting and full of opportunities. On the flip side, it can also be stressful and expensive.daily life
- Many people believe that technology makes our lives easier by connecting us instantly. On the flip side, it can also lead to less face-to-face interaction and even social isolation.IELTS speaking
Common mistake
✗ In the flip side, it's cheaper.
✓ On the flip side, it's cheaper.
It's 'ON the flip side' — not 'in'.
Common collocations
on the flip side— but on the flip side, though, then again
Don't confuse it
'On the flip side' is more conversational than 'conversely' or 'in contrast', and is rarely used in formal writing.