noun
flak
flak
noun
1
Anti-aircraft gunfire, or the guns that produce it.
"The bomber crew flew straight through heavy flak."
2
Harsh criticism or complaints.
"The company took a lot of flak for the price hike."
"She got flak from her boss for missing the deadline."
How to Use Flak
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishOriginally anti-aircraft fire; now mostly used for a barrage of criticism.
Common pairings
take flak
catch flak
heavy flak
Word Forms
flaks plural
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The bomber crew flew straight through heavy _____.
Etymology
Borrowed from German FlaK, a short form of Fliegerabwehrkanone, "aircraft-defense cannon."