flak

Or flack

[flak]

noun

1. antiaircraft fire, especially as experienced by the crews of combat airplanes at which the fire is directed.

2. criticism; hostile reaction; abuse.

   Such an unpopular decision is bound to draw a lot of flak from the press.

flak

/ flæk /

noun

1. anti-aircraft fire or artillery

2. informal,  a great deal of adverse criticism

Word History and Origins

Origin of flak¹

1935–40; < German Fl ( ieger ) a ( bwehr ) k ( anone ) antiaircraft gun, equivalent to Flieger aircraft (literally, flyer) + Abwehr defense + Kanone gun, cannon

Word History and Origins

Origin of flak¹

C20: from German Fl ( ieger ) a ( bwehr ) k ( anone ), literally: aircraft defence gun

Example Sentences

The fracas over the 29-year-old singer’s audio clip marks the second time in as many weeks that a major artist has taken flak from prominent conservatives over his perceived views of ICE.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

On Saturday mornings, we have two or three guards wearing camo and flak jackets carrying assault rifles.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

There's no end of flak that can be flung at Russell Martin for the epic fail that is his project at Rangers.

Read more on BBC

And a young Latino who was already catching flak for trying to work for Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

The sole representative from former Mayor Ray Nagin’s office, his PR flak Sally Forman, does her job incredibly well even now, eloquently passing the buck to people who aren’t available to explain themselves.

Read more on Salon