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flinch

   Also found in: Encyclopedia, Wikipedia, Hutchinson 0.03 sec.
flinch  (flnch)
intr.v. flinched, flinch·ing, flinch·es
1. To start or wince involuntarily, as from surprise or pain.
2. To recoil, as from something unpleasant or difficult; shrink.
n.
An act or instance of starting, wincing, or recoiling.

[Obsolete French flenchir, of Germanic origin.]

flincher n.
flinching·ly adv.

flinch
Verb
1. to draw back suddenly from pain or something unpleasant
2. flinch from to avoid: I wouldn't flinch from saying that to his face [Old French flenchir]
ThesaurusLegend:  Synonyms Related Words Antonyms
Noun1.flinch - a reflex response to sudden pain
startle, jump, start - a sudden involuntary movement; "he awoke with a start"
Verb1.flinch - draw back, as with fear or pain; "she flinched when they showed the slaughtering of the calf"
move - move so as to change position, perform a nontranslational motion; "He moved his hand slightly to the right"
shrink back, retract - pull away from a source of disgust or fear

flinch
verb 2. (often with from) shy away, shrink, withdraw, flee, retreat, back off, swerve, shirk, draw back, baulk
Translations
Spanish flinch [flɪntʃ] viencogerse
French flinch [flɪntʃ] vitressaillir;
to flinch from → se dérober à, reculer devant

German flinch [flɪntʃ] vizusammenzucken;
to flinch from → zurückschrecken vor +dat

Italian flinch [flɪntʃ] viritirarsi;
to flinch from → tirarsi indietro di fronte a

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? Mentioned in ? References in classic literature
 
Every time she held the skimmer under the pump to cool it for the work her hand trembled, the ardour of his affection being so palpable that she seemed to flinch under it like a plant in too burning a sun.
Malbihn saw him instantly and fired; but Baynes did not flinch or duck.
He knew that he would suffer and die; but he did not flinch.
 
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