flak
/flak
/(also flack)
noun [mass noun]
1Anti-aircraft fire.Approximately 50 enemy aircraft were in the vicinity and the entire area was full of friendly flak....
- We went down to St. Vith and when I looked down all I saw was fire, smoke, and flak going in all directions.
- For the moment my main concern was not Luftwaffe fighters, lights or flak.
1.1Strong criticism: you must be strong enough to take the flak if things go wrong...
- We conservatives often take a lot of flak for being overly critical of the liberal viewpoint.
- And I just wanted to compliment Bill on speaking his mind, because I'm sure he gets a lot of flack and criticism for doing this.
- One consequence is that ministers will have to take the flak, to accept that they will be blamed for faults, even when those are none of their making.
Synonyms
criticism, censure, disapproval, disapprobation, hostility, complaints;
castigation, condemnation, denunciation;
opprobrium, obloquy, calumny, calumniation, execration, excoriation, vilification, abuse, revilement, lambasting
informal brickbats, knocking, panning, slamming, tongue-lashing, a bad press
British informal stick, verbal, slagging off, slagging
Origin
1930s: from German, abbreviation of Fliegerabwehrkanone, literally 'aviator-defence gun'.