flak or flack

Meanings

1. 1noununcountableinformal

   Strong criticism or opposition, often from the public or the media.

   Grammar: Uncountable: take flak. Often used in the phrase 'take flak' or 'get flak'.

   Patterns

   • take flak
   • get flak
   • flak from someone
   • flak over something

   The mayor took a lot of flak over the new parking rules.

   She got flak from her colleagues for missing the deadline.

   The company faced flak from customers about the price increase.

2. 2nouncountableinformal

   A person whose job is to represent a famous person or organization to the public and deal with journalists.

   Grammar: Countable: a flack, flacks. This sense is usually spelled 'flack'.

   Patterns

   • a press flack
   • a political flack
   • work as a flack

   The actor's flack denied the rumors about a divorce.

   She worked as a flack for a large oil company.

   The flack arranged interviews for the new author.

Common combinations

take flak

The coach took flak for the team's poor performance.

get flak from

He got flak from his boss for arriving late.

a press flack

The press flack handed out copies of the speech.

political flack

The political flack tried to change the subject.

Synonyms and how they differ

criticism

A general word for negative comments; 'flak' is more informal and often suggests public or media criticism.

opposition

Means strong disagreement or resistance; 'flak' is usually about criticism, not organized opposition.

publicist

A neutral word for a person who promotes someone; 'flack' is informal and sometimes slightly disapproving.

Opposites

Commonly confused: flak or flack or flak?

Practice

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