flinch

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Pronunciation

• IPA: /flɪntʃ/

Noun

flinch (plural flinches)

1. A reflexive jerking away.

   My eye doctor hates the flinch I have every time he tries to get near my eyes.

2. (croquet) The slipping of the foot from a ball, when attempting to give a tight croquet.

Translations

• German: Zucken, Zurückzucken, Zurückschrecken, Zusammenfahren
• Russian: вздра́гивание

Verb

flinch (flinches, present participle flinching; past and past participle flinched)

1. (intransitive) To make a sudden, involuntary movement in response to a (usually negative) stimulus; to cringe.
   • 1693 John Locke, Some Thoughts Concerning Education:

     A child, by a constant course of kindness, may be accustomed to bear very rough usage without flinching or complaining.

2. To dodge (a question), to avoid an unpleasant task or duty
3. (croquet) To let the foot slip from a ball, when attempting to give a tight croquet.

Translations

• French: broncher, sursauter
• German: zucken, zurückzucken, zurückschrecken, zurückweichen, zusammenzucken, wanken, zusammenfahren
• Italian: sussultare
• Russian: вздра́гивать
• Spanish: estremecerse, reaccionar

Translations

• German: sich entziehen
• Russian: увильнуть

Verb

flinch (flinches, present participle flinching; past and past participle flinched)

1. Alternative form of flense

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