flak
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Related to flak: flak jacket
flak
Criticism or judgment. It is a shortening of the German word Fliegerabwehrkanone, meaning "anti-aircraft gun." Come on, I'm trying my best—stop giving me so much flak.
get flak
To receive a lot of criticism, judgment, or teasing. Because I'm in a family full of surgeons, I get a lot of flak for my career in the arts.
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms. © 2015 Farlex, Inc, all rights reserved.
get/take (the) ˈflak (for something)
(informal) receive severe criticism: He’s taken a lot of flak for his unpopular decisions. ♢ Why do I always get the flak when something goes wrong around here? Flak is bullets from guns on the ground that are shooting at enemy aircraft.
Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary © Farlex 2017
flak
and flack (flæk)1. n. complaints; criticism; negative feedback. (Originally referred to antiaircraft guns and the explosions and damage they caused. The first form is an initialism from German Fliegerabwehrkanonen = flyer defense cannons. I.e., the initial fl plus the first a plus the k.) Why do I have to get all the flak for what you did?
2. n. publicity; hype. Who is going to believe this flack about being first-rate?
3. n. a public relations agent or officer. The flak made an announcement and then disappeared.
McGraw-Hill's Dictionary of American Slang and Colloquial Expressions Copyright © 2006 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved.