flack
pronunciation
How to pronounce flack in British English:
UK [flæk]
How to pronounce flack in American English:
US [flæk]
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- Noun:
- a slick spokesperson who can turn any criticism to the advantage of their employer
- intense adverse criticism
- artillery designed to shoot upward at airplanes
Word Origin
- flack (n.)
- "publicity or press agent," 1945, also by that year as a verb, said to have been coined at show biz magazine "Variety" (but the first attested use is not in "Variety") and supposedly from name of Gene Flack, a movie agent, but influenced by flak. There was a Gene Flack who was an advertising executive in the U.S. during the 1940s, but he seems to have sold principally biscuits, not movies.
Example
- 1. That 's just one of the many mysteries , flack .
- 2. Why not have flack bring him in ?
- 3. Have you gotten flack from managers or colleagues or volunteer groups ?
- 4. Then smith , then flack .
- 5. I like the roberta flack .