Flak is anti-aircraft fire.
- Pilots flying over enemy territory were in constant fear of being hit by flak.
When used figuratively, flak is also a hostile reaction.
- When educators make controversial statements about standardized testing, they can expect a lot of flak.
The term flak-catchers was coined by the essayist Tom Wolfe to describe people whose job is to shield their boss from negative reactions.
- The CEO of the troubled corporation appeared suddenly, surrounded by his flak-catchers.
Flack, in addition to being a variant spelling of flak, is also an informal term for a publicist.
- The term flack for a press agent is said to have come from the name of a famous 1930’s publicist, Gene Flack.
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