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Meaning & use

flak jackets

noun·Advanced

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UK/ˈflæk ˌdʒækɪts/
US/ˈflæk ˌdʒækəts/

“flak jackets” is a form of “flak jacket”. See that entry for the full set of meanings.

Meanings

  1. nounpluralmilitary

    Heavy protective vests worn over the body, especially by soldiers and police, to stop fragments from shells and bullets.

    Grammar: Plural of flak jacket; one is a flak jacket, two are flak jackets.

    Patterns

    • wear flak jackets

    The reporters put on flak jackets before entering the city.

    Police officers wore flak jackets during the raid.

    The soldiers were issued new flak jackets and helmets.

  2. nounpluralfigurativeinformal

    Protective clothing of any sort that people wear or imagine wearing to guard themselves against heavy criticism.

    Grammar: Used figuratively, usually with wear or need: politicians need flak jackets.

    Patterns

    • wear flak jackets

    Councillors put on their flak jackets before the angry public meeting.

    The press office had to pull out the flak jackets after the scandal.

    Anyone who joins the debate needs a flak jacket and thick skin.

Word forms

singularflak jacket

Common combinations

wear flak jackets
All visitors had to wear flak jackets in the zone.
don flak jackets
The journalists donned flak jackets and helmets.
bulletproof flak jackets
The guards wore bulletproof flak jackets.
issue flak jackets
The army issued flak jackets to the whole unit.
figurative flak jackets
The candidates put on figurative flak jackets for the debate.

Synonyms and how they differ

body armor
Body armor is the general, modern term and may cover hard plates, whereas flak jacket suggests the older, fabric style.
bulletproof vest
A bulletproof vest is specifically made to stop bullets, while a flak jacket was designed mainly against shell fragments.
armor
Armor is a broader word that covers shields and metal suits from any era.

Word family

flak noun
anti-aircraft fire, or heavy criticism
jacket noun
a short coat
flak-jacketed adjective
wearing a flak jacket

Commonly confused: flak jackets or flack?

flak jackets vs flack

Flack is a variant spelling in some US writing for criticism, but flak jacket is always spelled with one k at the end; flack can also mean a press agent.

Practice

Before reporting from the front line, the correspondents were handed helmets and ___.

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