flak
noun
ˈflak 
variants or less commonly flack
plural flak also flack
1
: antiaircraft guns
2
: the bursting shells fired from flak
3
: criticism, opposition
She has taken a good deal of flak for espousing that view.
E. J. Kahn, Jr.
E. J. Kahn, Jr.When I was a restaurant bar manager I sometimes found myself taking flak from my customers for our high prices … Rob Hill
Rob Hill
Example Sentences
He caught heavy flak for his decision to oppose the new school. He took a lot of flak from the other kids for his unusual appearance.
Recent Examples on the Web For now, the most ambitious corporate investors aren’t taking too much flak from Wall Street. Jacob Carpenter, Fortune, 31 May 2022 Just last month India was taking flak from the West for its relationship with Russia. Rhea Mogul And Simone Mccarthy, CNN, 22 Apr. 2022 Amber Heard got a lot of flak on social media during her defamation trial with Johnny Depp. Los Angeles Times, 19 July 2022 As Musk takes flak over his potential Twitter purchase, several liberal media organizations owned by billionaires don’t experience public pushback. Jack Durschlag, Fox News, 18 Apr. 2022 The team would not repay the debt for six years, and the interim Williams caught all kinds of flak. Steve Jbara, Forbes, 3 June 2022 Drag shows for children have exploded in popularity in recent years, sparking controversy around the country as some school districts have taken flak for hosting them. Jon Brown, Fox News, 16 May 2022 Tannehill also has taken some flak for not being with the Titans at the start of the offseason program last month. oregonlive, 3 May 2022 No Way Home, Cumberbatch’s Master of the Mystic Arts caught a lot of flak for defying Wong (Benedict Wong) and jumping at the chance to help Peter Parker (Tom Holland) cast a spell that would make people forget that Parker was ever Spider-Man. Brian Davids, The Hollywood Reporter, 2 May 2022 See More
Jacob Carpenter, Fortune, 31 May 2022 Just last month India was taking flak from the West for its relationship with Russia. Rhea Mogul And Simone Mccarthy, CNN, 22 Apr. 2022 Amber Heard got a lot of flak on social media during her defamation trial with Johnny Depp. Los Angeles Times, 19 July 2022 As Musk takes flak over his potential Twitter purchase, several liberal media organizations owned by billionaires don’t experience public pushback. Jack Durschlag, Fox News, 18 Apr. 2022 The team would not repay the debt for six years, and the interim Williams caught all kinds of flak. Steve Jbara, Forbes, 3 June 2022 Drag shows for children have exploded in popularity in recent years, sparking controversy around the country as some school districts have taken flak for hosting them. Jon Brown, Fox News, 16 May 2022 Tannehill also has taken some flak for not being with the Titans at the start of the offseason program last month. oregonlive, 3 May 2022 No Way Home, Cumberbatch’s Master of the Mystic Arts caught a lot of flak for defying Wong (Benedict Wong) and jumping at the chance to help Peter Parker (Tom Holland) cast a spell that would make people forget that Parker was ever Spider-Man. Brian Davids, The Hollywood Reporter, 2 May 2022 See More Word History
Etymology
German, from Fliegerabwehrkanonen, from Flieger flyer + Abwehr defense + Kanonen cannons
First Known Use
1938, in the meaning defined at sense 1