flinch

/flɪntʃ/ (bre, ipa) · /flɪntʃ/ (ame, ipa) · /ˈflinch/ (ame, mw)

flinch — verb

  • flinchpresent simple I / you / we / they
  • flincheshe / she / it
  • flinchedpast simple
  • flinching-ing form

1. to twitch briefly with a tiny jerk because something hurts, startles you, or fee

1.動詞不及物C1
釋義

to twitch briefly with a tiny jerk because something hurts, startles you, or feels threatening.

例句

Liang flinched when the nurse pushed the needle into his arm.

core trigger: flinch + when-clause with a sudden painful event

Renata flinched at the loud bang from the kitchen.

pattern: flinch + at + sudden noise / unexpected stimulus

同義詞
  • wince

    very close meaning; wince usually emphasises the facial expression of brief pain

  • recoil

    stronger, larger backward movement, often from disgust or shock rather than pain

  • cringe

    shrinks the body in embarrassment or disgust, not from a sudden physical hit

反義詞
  • endure

    to bear pain or pressure without showing a reaction

文法句型

flinch + at + noun

flinch + from + noun/-ing

用法筆記

Almost always intransitive and used of a brief, involuntary body reaction; the trigger appears after 'at' (a stimulus) or 'from' (something to avoid). Often appears in the negative ('did not flinch') to praise someone for staying calm under pain or pressure.

常見錯誤

❌The nurse flinched him with the needle.
✅He flinched when the nurse used the needle.
💡flinch is intransitive; the person reacting is the subject, not the object.
❌She flinched the loud bang.
✅She flinched at the loud bang.
💡the trigger needs a preposition (usually 'at').