flinch
B2Neutral to formal. More common in written and descriptive language than casual conversation.
Definition
Meaning
To make a sudden, small movement because of pain, fear, or surprise; to withdraw or shy away from something difficult or unpleasant.
To hesitate or recoil, showing reluctance or unwillingness to proceed with a difficult action or decision.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Implies an instinctive, often involuntary, physical or emotional reaction. Can be used literally (physical jerk) or figuratively (moral/emotional withdrawal). Often followed by "from" when describing the source of recoil.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Usage and meaning are identical. No significant dialectal variation.
Connotations
Equally neutral in both varieties. Slightly more literary in everyday American speech.
Frequency
Comparable frequency in both. Possibly slightly higher in British written sources.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
Subject + flinchSubject + flinch + at/from + object (noun/gerund)Subject + flinch + away/backVocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “without flinching (to do something bravely without showing fear)”
- “not flinch from (to not avoid a difficult duty)”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Used to describe hesitation in negotiations or tough decisions. 'The CEO didn't flinch when announcing the restructuring.'
Academic
Used in historical or literary analysis to describe a character's reaction or a nation's response to crisis.
Everyday
Describing a reaction to sudden noise, pain, or an unpleasant task. 'She flinched when the door slammed.'
Technical
Rare. Potentially in psychology or physiology to describe a startle response.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- He didn't flinch as the dentist's drill touched his tooth.
- A true soldier must not flinch from his duty.
- She flinched away from the icy spray.
American English
- He didn't flinch when the bill came.
- The team never flinched under pressure.
- I flinched as the baseball headed straight for me.
adverb
British English
- (Rare, from participle) He stared flinchingly at the document.
American English
- (Rare, from participle) She answered the question flinchingly.
adjective
British English
- (Rare, as participle) He spoke with flinching honesty.
- A flinch-inducing moment of suspense.
American English
- (Rare, as participle) She gave a non-flinching assessment.
- A flinch-worthy scene in the horror movie.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- The cat flinched when I tried to pet it.
- Don't flinch! It's just a picture.
- He flinched as the cold water hit his back.
- She managed to watch the scary film without flinching.
- The negotiator didn't flinch at the other side's outrageous demands.
- He never flinched from telling the truth, however unpleasant.
- Her resolve was absolute; she faced the tribunal's questioning without a flinch.
- The memoir is a flinchingly honest account of his addiction.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of 'FLINCH' as 'FLIN' (like flint, a hard stone) + 'CH' (a sound of discomfort). You're so hard (like flint) you don't make a 'ch' sound of discomfort—you don't FLINCH.
Conceptual Metaphor
DIFFICULTY/PAIN IS A PHYSICAL FORCE THAT CAUSES RETREAT (e.g., 'He flinched from his responsibilities').
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Не путать с 'мигать' (blink) или 'дрожать' (tremble). Flinch — это именно резкое, отдергивающее движение в ответ на угрозу или неприятность.
Common Mistakes
- Using 'flinch' for a prolonged state of fear (use 'be afraid'). Confusing with 'fling'. Incorrect preposition: 'flinched *with* the noise' (correct: 'flinched *at* the noise').
Practice
Quiz
In which sentence is 'flinch' used figuratively?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Flinch is a sudden movement away from something, often instinctive. Wince is a facial expression (often with flinching) in response to pain or empathy. Cringe is a shrinking motion due to fear, disgust, or embarrassment, and is often more prolonged.
Almost never. It inherently carries a connotation of reacting to something unpleasant, painful, or threatening. For positive surprise, use 'start' or 'jump'.
Primarily intransitive. You flinch (at/from something). It is very rarely used transitively (e.g., 'The blow was flinched' is non-standard).
Not necessarily. It describes an instinctive reaction. The phrase 'without flinching' is used to praise bravery, but the act of flinching itself is usually seen as a natural, involuntary reflex.