flake out: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C1Informal
Quick answer
What does “flake out” mean?
To suddenly fall asleep or lose consciousness, often from exhaustion.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
To suddenly fall asleep or lose consciousness, often from exhaustion; to fail to appear or follow through on something.
To stop functioning or participating suddenly and unexpectedly; to behave in an eccentric, unreliable, or irresponsible manner.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Used in both varieties with similar core meanings. The 'fall asleep' meaning may be slightly more common in US usage.
Connotations
Informal, mildly disapproving. Suggests unreliability or weakness in the 'fail to appear' sense.
Frequency
Moderately common in casual conversation in both regions; less frequent in formal writing.
Grammar
How to Use “flake out” in a Sentence
flake out (intransitive)flake out on + person/eventVocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “flake out” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- I'm so tired, I might just flake out on the sofa.
- He promised to help, but he's flaked out again.
American English
- I flaked out halfway through the movie.
- Don't you dare flake out on our road trip.
adjective
British English
- He's a bit flakey when it comes to weekend plans.
American English
- Her flaky behavior cost her the promotion.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Rare; considered unprofessional. 'We can't rely on him; he always flakes out on important deadlines.'
Academic
Very rare; too informal.
Everyday
Common in social planning and describing fatigue. 'Sorry I flaked out last night, I was knackered.'
Technical
Not used.
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “flake out”
- Using it transitively without 'on' (e.g., 'He flaked the party' - INCORRECT; 'He flaked out on the party' - CORRECT).
- Overusing in formal contexts.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Mostly yes, especially in the 'fail to appear' sense. The 'fall asleep' sense can be neutral or humorous depending on context.
They are very similar synonyms. 'Flake out' often implies a pattern of unreliability or a physical/mental collapse, while 'bail' is a more general term for leaving unexpectedly.
Yes, the regular past form is 'flaked out.'
Both spellings are accepted, but 'flaky' is more common.
To suddenly fall asleep or lose consciousness, often from exhaustion.
Flake out is usually informal in register.
Flake out: in British English it is pronounced /ˌfleɪk ˈaʊt/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˌfleɪk ˈaʊt/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “He's a total flake.”
- “Don't flake out on me now.”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a SNOWFLAKE melting away suddenly, or a FLAKEY person crumbling under pressure and disappearing.
Conceptual Metaphor
RELIABILITY IS SOLIDITY / UNRELIABILITY IS FRAGMENTATION (a 'flake' is a small, breakable piece).
Practice
Quiz
In which context is 'flake out' LEAST appropriate?