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flack - 7 dictionary results

flack

1  [flak]
Use flack in a Sentence
–noun Sometimes Disparaging.
1. press agent.
2. publicity.
–verb (used without object)
3. to serve as a press agent or publicist: to flack for a new rock group.
–verb (used with object)
4. to promote; publicize: to flack a new record.
Origin:
1935–40; said to be after Gene Flack, a movie publicity agent

flack

2  [flak]
–noun
flak.

flak

  [flak]
–noun
1. antiaircraft fire, esp. 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.
Also, flack.

Origin:
1935–40; < G Fl(ieger)a(bwehr)k(anone) antiaircraft gun, equiv. to Flieger aircraft (lit., flyer) + Abwehr defense + Kanone gun, cannon
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
Cite This Source Link To flack
flack 1   (flāk)   
n.  A press agent; a publicist.
v.   flacked, flack·ing, flacks

v.   intr.
To act as a press agent: flacking for a movie studio.
v.   tr.
To act as a press agent for; promote: authors who tour the country flacking their books.

[Origin unknown.]
flack'er·y n.
flack 2   (flāk)   
n.  Variant of flak.
flak also flack   (flāk)   
n.  
    1. Antiaircraft artillery.
    2. The bursting shells fired from such artillery.
    3. Excessive or abusive criticism.
    4. Dissension; opposition.
  2. Informal
    1. Excessive or abusive criticism.
    2. Dissension; opposition.

[German, from Fl(ieger)a(bwehr)k(anone), aircraft-defense gun.]
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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flack 
"publicity or press agent," 1946, said to have been coined in show biz magazine "Variety" (but this is not the first attested use), supposedly from name of Gene Flack, a movie agent, but influenced by flak (q.v.).
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
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Language Translation for : flack
Spanish: llano, plano, liso,
German: flach,
Japanese: 平らな
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