Question: I need help with the connotation of the phrase *flip flop*. Let me explain – I am working on a small project that is meant to promote travelling and education through travelling and getting to know other cultures. I have to come up with a catchy name for it. “Flip-flop nation” came to mind but I was wondering if used in this way the phrase carries the right emotional association. I know that *flip flop* also has several negative meanings.

I would appreciate any insight on this subject.

Answer: 
I would associate the phrase *Flip-flop nation* with the sort of poverty illustrated here...

![Poverty in the Congo](https://i.stack.imgur.com/fSzIA.jpg)

...where it's implied that the entire nation is only shod in flip-flops, if that. I suppose that this depend on the understanding of *flip-flop,* which I take to be the rather fetching pink footwear at the bottom-left of the picture (as opposed to electronic devices or politicians).

Consequently the phrase is undesirable. You would be contrasting the affluence of those who can afford to visit far-flung places with the inhabitants of those countries.

(Image from *[What Shoes Gotta Do With It?](http://www.endingextremepoverty.org/2011/02/what-shoes-gotta-do-with-it.html)*, purely as an illustration, not a political statement)
I'll agree with others that "flip-flop" probably does not convey the idea you want. Yes, if I heard "Flip-Flop Nation", my first thought would be, "country of people who change their minds constantly". Next thought would be "country of people who wear sandals". If told neither of these were correct, I might think of SF's definition and say "country where electronic logic circuits are fabricated".

Perhaps you need to clarify what you DO want to say. Are you trying to say "nation of people who travel a lot"? "Nation of people who know a lot about other cultures"? Literal phrases would be "Travelling Nation", "Well-travelled nation", "Wandering Nation", "Mobile Nation", "Culturally-Aware Nation", "Culturally-Sensitive Nation", "Global Nation", "Nation of World Learners", etc, though none of those are particularly clever or catchy and most or all are subject to alternative interpretations. I'm not sure if you consider "nation" an essential part of the phrase. Perhaps something more along the lines of "Global Travellers", "Culture Travellers", "International Awareness", etc etc.