/flinch/

 

/flinch/

Verb.

-) Pronunciation: flɪnʃ.

-) Etymology: it is supposed to be derived from Old French flenchir (variant of flechir, which is now fléchir).

-) Third-person singular simple present: she/he flinches.

-) Preterite tense, preterite participle: flinched.

-) Present participle: flinching.

-) It is dated from the end of 1500.

Intransitively: 1. (Of someone) to withdraw from something or someone that is dangerous, feared or apprehended, so as to avoid contact or confronting.

-) Synonyms for the verb flinch: to recoil, start back, draw back, jerk back, retreat, recede.

-) Antonyms: to confront, face.

-) Translation: reculer, in French; retroceder, in Spanish; indietreggiare, rinculare, in Italian.

The infantry behaved well; they never flinched, but stood their ground as brave soldiers should do.

Frederick Marryat… Monsieur Violet 1843

[…] our inferiority in men was so great that our captain considered it his duty to make all sail in hopes of being able to avoid such an unequal combat. This our enemies attempted to prevent by a most furious cannonade, which we received and returned without flinching, making a running fight of it, till at last, our fore-yard and foretop-mast being shot away, we had no longer command of the vessel.

Frederick Marryat… The Privateersman 1846

[…] the squire had them all on horseback at an early age, and made them ride, slap-dash, about the country, without flinching at hedge or ditch, or stone wall, to the imminent danger of their necks.

Washington Irving… Bracebridge Hall 1822

The Gauls had brought innumerable archers with them. The horse flinched slightly under the […] arrows.

James Froude… Caesar 1879

-) With the preposition from + noun of what is dangerous, feared or apprehended:

Along the whole line the infantry turned their faces and the gunners flinched from their guns.

Arthur Doyle… The adventures of Gerard 1903

As for Mac, he did not move or flinch from the attack.

Max Brand… The Night Horseman 1920

2. To withdraw from something or someone, as a reaction to an unpleasing feeling caused by it/her/him. Hence, to shrink reactionarily, even when the feeling is not unpleasing, but so overpowering as to reaction with a shrink.

-) Synonyms: to wince, cringe.

Calling for a needle and thread, the captain now prepared to sew up the wound, admonishing the patient to submit to the operation with becoming fortitude. His gayety was at an end […]; and, at the first puncture of the needle, flinched so piteously, that the captain was obliged to pause, and to order him a powerful dose of alcohol.

Washington Irving… Captain Bonneville 1837

“I have the happiness of knowing your father-in-law,” whispered Mr. Creakle, taking me by the ear; “and a worthy man he is, and a man of a strong character. He knows me, and I know him. Do you know me? Hey? said Mr. Creakle, pinching my ear with ferocious playfulness.

“Not yet, Sir,” I said, flinching with the pain.

“Not yet? Hey?” repeated Mr. Creakle. “But you will soon. Hey?”

Charles Dickens… David Copperfield 1850

"Yuh all think Andy Green lives to tell lies," snapped Pink, throwing the saddle on his horse with a grunt at the weight of it. The horse flinched away from its impact.

Bertha Bower… The Happy Family 1910

 [“] spread your legs a little and bend your knees, a little more,” he said indicating she should spread her legs wider. He touched her vagina. It was warm and somewhat wet. He gently spread the lips […]. Her clitoris was larger than before and appeared erect. He touched it gently with his finger.

“Oh,”she exclaimed and flinched.

J. D. Splitter… Tracking Lisa 2011

3. Metaphor: to abstain from doing something, as if by withdrawing from its presence.

-) Synonyms: to blench, funk, shy.

I have any possible excuse for flinching from the fulfilment of my promise made to her friend?

Theodore Hook… The Parson’s daughter 1833

Father was a fond, indulgent husband, but a man that never flinched from anything that he thought necessary.

Harriet Stowe… Uncle Tom’s Cabin 1852

It was my business […] to show things exactly as they were, and I did not flinch from it.

John Mill… Autobiography 1873

Caesar's men flinched from facing the elephants, and time was lost while other elephants were fetched from Italy, that they might handle them and grow familiar with them.

James Froude… Caesar 1879

Perhaps the volunteers may flinch from going to the field.

Murat Halstead… The story of Cuba 1896

4. (Of the eyes, look, etc.) to discontinue their glaring from timidity or fear of what is seen.

-) Synonym: blench.

Her eyes could not lift without an effort: they fluttered vainly upwards, but before reaching any height they flinched aside.

James Stephens… Mary, Mary

Transitively: (archaic acceptation): to draw back from (something).

-) In phrases as to flich the flagon, or to flinch one’s glass, to signify that one is unwilling to get drunk.

He laughed heartily, and said neither English nor Dutchmen ever flinched the glass.

John Eagles… The journal… 1815

-) English words derived from FLINCH: flinch (noun), flincher, flinching, flinchingly, unflinching, unflinchingly.