Flinch definition

flĭnch

Words form:

Frequency:

To start or wince involuntarily, as from surprise or pain.

verb

An act or instance of starting, wincing, or recoiling.

noun

To wince, as from pain.

verb

To draw back, as from a blow, difficulty, etc.

verb

Flinch is defined as to make a quick motion of the body moving away out of surprise or fear.

When you fear a ball flying past your head and coming at you and you duck back a bit out of fear, this is an example of a time when you flinch.

When you shy away from participating in an activity because you are nervous, this is an example of a time when you flinch.

verb

An act of flinching.

noun

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

noun

To make a sudden, involuntary movement in response to a (usually negative) stimulus.

verb

To dodge (a question), to avoid an unpleasant task or duty.

verb

To let the foot slip from a ball, when attempting to give a tight croquet.

verb

To recoil, as from something unpleasant or difficult; shrink.

verb

Origin of flinch

Obsolete French flenchir of Germanic origin

From American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition
Compare Gothic (filhan), Icelandic fela (“to hide”)

From Wiktionary