flinch
flinch
Definition
flinch (flinc̸h)
intransitive verb
- to draw back, as from a blow, difficulty, etc.
- to wince, as from pain
Etymology: earlier also flench < OFr flenchir, to bend aside < Frank *hlankjan, akin to Ger lenken, OE hlencan, to twist, bend: see lank
noun
an act of flinching
flinch
Synonyms
flinch
Usage Examples
Object
- bit: And she flinches a tiny bit, as tho she's shocked - and then she just grabs my forearms and leans into it.
- man: The idea that this frightened, flinching man would oversee the necessary democratic revolution is preposterous.
Preposition: at
- prospect: But before you flinch at the prospect of TV diners and Angel Delight on the menu, fear not.
- thought: Hang on, that policeman's back, I'll have to put you in my lap... [ Small Talk flinches at thought.
- sound: My men are stout fellows not used to flinch at the sound of a round shot passing over their heads.
Adjective modifier
- involuntary: The slight involuntary flinch of her shoulders struck him with agonizing impact.
Modifying Another Word
- never: Military men who never flinched at the roar of rifles now shook at the prospect of facing the press.
- away: Why does the child appear to be flinching away from Oberon?
- even: Go on stick a knife in them I would even flinch.
- not: Britain would not flinch from its " historic struggle " in Iraq, Tony Blair has insisted.
- n't: Richards does n't flinch from showing murder most foul in all its grisly detail.
- back: Where you and I flinch back, she leaps forward.
Used with why or when
- whenever: She had also stopped flinching whenever I passed and sniffed my fingers through the wire rather than attacking them.
Preposition: in
- face: We do not flinch in the face of any difficulties.
- fear: When you realize what'message ' we are sending the cat it is little wonder that the cat flinches in fear.
- war: The Conservative Party will never flinch in that war.
Preposition: from
- life: John Steinbeck never flinches away from life he takes it fully into his novels without becoming gratuitous in any way.
Browse dictionary entries near flinch
- flimsy
- flimflam
- flighty
- flightless
- flightiness
- flight-test
- flight surgeon
- flight strip
- flight shooting
- flight recorder
- flinders
- fling
- flint
- flint corn
- flint glass
- flintlock
- Flintshire
- flinty
- flip
- flip chart
