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Flak: meaning, definitions and examples

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flak

 

[ flรฆk ]

Noun / Verb
Context #1 | Noun

military defense

Flak refers to anti-aircraft fire or the shells used in such artillery. Originally developed in Germany, the term has become synonymous with the actions taken to defend against aerial attacks. This type of fire is typically characterized by a series of bursts around an aircraft to create a defensive perimeter. In a broader context, it can also refer to criticism or opposition, often in reference to public figures or policies.

Synonyms

anti-aircraft fire, criticism, crossfire

Examples of usage

  • The bomber had to navigate through heavy flak over the target area.
  • Pilots are trained to avoid flak during their missions.
  • The politician received a lot of flak for his recent comments.
Context #2 | Verb

to criticize

To flak someone means to criticize or reprimand them, often unfairly or harshly. This usage reflects the idea of firing at someone, figuratively speaking, as in shooting down their arguments or actions. In media and public discourse, flak can refer to backlash or negative feedback directed at individuals, organizations, or their actions.

Synonyms

attack, criticize, rebuke

Examples of usage

  • The critics flaked the movie for its lack of originality.
  • After the announcement, the CEO was flaked by various news outlets.
  • He was flaked for his controversial stance on social issues.

Translations

Translations of the word "flak" in other languages:

๐Ÿ‡ต๐Ÿ‡น flak

๐Ÿ‡ฎ๐Ÿ‡ณ เคซเฅเคฒเฅˆเค•

๐Ÿ‡ฉ๐Ÿ‡ช Flak

๐Ÿ‡ฎ๐Ÿ‡ฉ flak

๐Ÿ‡บ๐Ÿ‡ฆ ั„ะปะฐะบ

๐Ÿ‡ต๐Ÿ‡ฑ flak

๐Ÿ‡ฏ๐Ÿ‡ต ใƒ•ใƒฉใƒƒใ‚ฏ

๐Ÿ‡ซ๐Ÿ‡ท flak

๐Ÿ‡ช๐Ÿ‡ธ flak

๐Ÿ‡น๐Ÿ‡ท flak

๐Ÿ‡ฐ๐Ÿ‡ท ํ”Œ๋ฝ

๐Ÿ‡ธ๐Ÿ‡ฆ ูู„ุงูƒ

๐Ÿ‡จ๐Ÿ‡ฟ flak

๐Ÿ‡ธ๐Ÿ‡ฐ flak

๐Ÿ‡จ๐Ÿ‡ณ ้ซ˜ๅฐ„็‚ฎ

๐Ÿ‡ธ๐Ÿ‡ฎ flak

๐Ÿ‡ฎ๐Ÿ‡ธ flak

๐Ÿ‡ฐ๐Ÿ‡ฟ ั„ะปะฐะบ

๐Ÿ‡ฌ๐Ÿ‡ช แƒคแƒšแƒแƒ™แƒ˜

๐Ÿ‡ฆ๐Ÿ‡ฟ flak

๐Ÿ‡ฒ๐Ÿ‡ฝ flak

Etymology

The word 'flak' originates from the German word 'Fliegerabwehrkanone' (meaning 'flying defense cannon'), during World War II. It was initially used to describe the anti-aircraft guns themselves and the shells they fired. Over time, the term was abbreviated to 'flak' and became widely adopted in English to refer to any anti-aircraft fire, particularly in an air combat context. In the post-war era, the term evolved further, entering informal language to signify harsh criticism or scrutiny of someone or something, reflecting the earlier metaphor of being 'under fire' from criticism. The dual meaning has maintained its relevance in both military jargon and modern conversational English, illustrating the dynamic nature of language and how words can shift and adapt based on their context.

Word Frequency Rank

At rank #26,665, this word represents specialized academic or technical vocabulary. It's less frequently encountered but may be valuable in specific contexts.