Meaning & use
backflashes
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“backflashes” is a form of “backflash”.
Meanings
nouncountablerare
A scene in a film or story that shows events from an earlier time; a flashback.
Grammar: Countable; usually plural 'backflashes' when talking about several such scenes.
Patterns
- a backflash to something
- use backflashes in a story
The movie uses backflashes to explain the hero's childhood.
Her novel is full of backflashes that reveal the truth slowly.
The director added a backflash to show what happened years before.
nouncountabletechnical
A sudden burst of flame or hot gas that goes backward, especially in an engine or a gun.
Grammar: Countable; often used in technical contexts about explosions or engines.
Patterns
- a backflash from an engine
- cause a backflash
The engineers studied the backflash that damaged the pipe.
A backflash can happen if the fuel mixture is wrong.
They installed a valve to prevent backflashes.
Word forms
| plural | backflashes |
|---|---|
| singular | backflash |
Common combinations
- use backflashes
- The writer uses backflashes to build suspense.
- a series of backflashes
- The film tells the story through a series of backflashes.
- prevent backflashes
- The new safety system is designed to prevent backflashes.
Synonyms and how they differ
Word family
- flashback noun
- The usual word for a scene or memory that goes back in time.
Commonly confused: backflashes or flashback?
backflashes vs flashback
'Flashback' is the standard term for a scene from the past; 'backflash' is rare and can be confusing.
Practice
The film uses ___ to show the character's early life.
Choose one answer.
The plural 'backflashes' fits because the film shows several such scenes. 'Backflash' is singular, 'backflashing' is a verb form, and 'backflashed' is past tense, none of which fit after 'uses'.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “backflashes”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.