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get flak

get flak

Date: Nov 05 2009

Themes: Health, Party

Quote

1. Quote - Listen to the quote and guess what the slang means.

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“I got a lot of flak for that song from some of the other parents at my daughter’s school.”

- Jamie Foxx talking about his song “Blame It,” which is about drinking. (US Weekly)

Definition

1. Definition - Study the definition.

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receive strong criticism

2. Use - Learn how the slang is used.

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Jamie Foxx’s song “Blame It,” which talks about a guy who gets a woman drunk so she’ll hook up with him, doesn’t send a very positive message to young girls. So it’s understandable that some of the parents of his 13-year-old daughter’s friends have criticized him for the song, or given him flak for it.

The expression get flak comes from World War II. Flak is short for a very long German word that refers to a military airplane gun. When American soldiers got fired on in the air by German planes, they called it getting flak. Later, the expression evolved to mean receive a lot of criticism. Just think of the negative things people say about you as bullets or shells being fired at you. That’s what it means to get flak.

Sometimes instead of get flak we say take or catch flak. The person who does the criticizing is said to give flak. A similar expression to get flak that also comes from the military is be under fire. You could say that Jamie Foxx is under fire at his daughter’s school for writing an unwholesome song.

When was the last time you got flak for something? Do you think Jamie Foxx deserved to get flak for writing a song about drinking?

Examples

1. Examples - Hear some example sentences.

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“I got a lot of flak from my parents for failing biology last semester.”

“He does whatever he wants and doesn’t mind if he has to take flak for it later.”

“I wish you wouldn’t give me so much flak about my tattoo.”

“I can’t miss another class or I’ll get flak from my teacher.”

Winners

1. Winners - See who guessed the slang definition correctly.

Turmeric to receive a good deal of disapproval and harsh criticizm.
by Turmeric
happy37 it means when a person recieves strong criticism
by happy37
fedorame to be criticized fiercely
by fedorame
FETT1990 get flak...means...get censure
by FETT1990
It means he got alot of criticism and complaint
by Shinichi Lover
Evelinutea got a lot of flank - got a lot of criticism
by Evelinutea
katrinaxia attacks, criticism。
by katrinaxia
chomo criticism~!
by chomo
It means some parents don't like and criticize it.
by Mr.Bean's wife
echo.xu I think Jamie Foxx get severe criticism from some of the other parents at his daughter's schoo. get flak means get criticism
by echo.xu
Lubna Alyy I guess the slang phrase 'got a lot of flak' means strong criticism.
by Lubna Alyy
veayai to receive some criticism
by veayai
bistraxx to be criticized and rebuked
by bistraxx
_Sasha_ means "to be criticized, censured"
by _Sasha_

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Comments

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Marcelolic

Marcelolic

Brazil

Sometimes we are got flak for doing or saying something…I guess everyone can say or write anything,whereas nobody is hurt ;)

01:19 PM Nov 14 2009 |

mickee85

mickee85

Philippines

I think everyone of us got and gave flak from and to someone. No matter what you do to make things right, there's always someone who aren't like what you did, haters are always exist. But to get and give flak is still essential in our lives, it always gives lessons to make us a better person.

02:55 PM Nov 10 2009 |

iwori

iwori

Japan

It's not a big deal if we got or gave flak, because many men, many minds. We can't decide whether things someone done is right or wrong easily.

From flak there are a lot of things to learn, I think. On the contrary, I'll say that someone who have never gotten flak are pity not to have chance to think over what you did.

02:35 PM Nov 10 2009 |

candid

candid

Germany

the meaing of get flak is to receive critizing. if you do something wrong according to someone's view you can be got flak.

 

08:38 AM Nov 10 2009 |

ANGEL SHY

Yemen

HHJ

08:01 PM Nov 09 2009 |

s id

Saudi Arabia

  i think he deserved to get flak for writing a song about drinking. 

  he gave a negative message for young girls .

04:43 PM Nov 09 2009 |

AimN

AimN

Yemen

nice…:)

03:28 PM Nov 08 2009 |

PRISCILA18

Colombia

i hate when people get flak me all the time…. i´m sick of that…. !!!!

11:14 PM Nov 07 2009 |

vip_groovygirl

United Arab Emirates

I honstly don't know what is the REAL message behind this song!! Is this song was made to send a posstive or nagative message? Because the lyrice is totally messed up ! At least { in my view of point }.

However, about getting flak ! I don't think there is anyone in this world didn't get flak lol, anyway, for me, I don't really care about getting flak if I was doing the right thing.

 

 

03:59 AM Nov 07 2009 |

nickyfat

China

I don't recall when exactly I got flak, maybe it was long time ago, I don't know. But it feels like no one has really critisized me but just blamed me for some reason and I guess that's why I don't remember. And I think Jamie Foxx should be responsible because he did send some unhealthy message to the young people, which is not right. And I hope he's learned from the flak!

12:13 AM Nov 07 2009 |

nickyfat

China

yes, I do get flak, but it's not quite often, I try to do things right, so few people get to give me flak

11:58 PM Nov 06 2009 |

nickyfat

China

yes, I do get flak, but it's not quite often, I try to do things right, so few people get to give me flak

11:58 PM Nov 06 2009 |

rosendo

rosendo

Mexico

he doesnt matter get flak  !! he's still selling cd's.

saludos.

05:45 AM Nov 06 2009 |

avuncularly yours

Viet Nam

The other day, I talked with a native english speakers on Paltalk. That paltalker defined the word "idioms" as "idiots". From his interpretation, idiom rhymes with idiot, and in some aspects, his interpretation does make sense.

12:48 AM Nov 06 2009 |

mr reed11

Bolivia

tis natural like to fear for ur kids .o my God that kind of songs might be ruinous even for the adults so serves him right and let him get more flaks for it 

10:28 PM Nov 05 2009 |

Johncolombia

Colombia

I HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO BE IN THE US AND GUYS DONT CARE ABOUT IF THE SONG IS RUDE OR TALK ABOUT SHAGGING ON THE STREETS OR STUFF, I KEEN ON THE IDEA OF SINGERS CATCHING FLAK ON ACCOUNT OF THEIR RUDENESS. WE AS LISTENERS OF THIS MUSIC MUST BE AWARE OF THE MESSAGE GIVEN AND PUT ARTIST UNDER THE FIRE IN ORDER TO THEY TO GET FLAK.

08:17 PM Nov 05 2009 |

DigitalStorm

Mexico

i agree with ayhann, specially for the most of metal and rock music's lyrics. They have lots of impolite,sarcasm,bad critics, sex abuse, anger and madness words.why don't they criticize those bands?

..but i like rock and metal anyway :P

 

07:43 PM Nov 05 2009 |

ayhann

ayhann

Turkey

most american music has  the words of sex,exhibitionism drink in it..why is it only jamie fox's music which gets flake? does he deserve it? maybe but they are too late to be sensitive about it.

06:33 PM Nov 05 2009 |

Romio79

Romio79

Russian Federation

I get a lot of flak from my grandmother. But I'm not very disappointed by it, cause she gives flak almost everybody. I think the reason for such critical way of life is her age. She's 91 years old.  

05:29 PM Nov 05 2009 |

Zambuka

Zambuka

United States

But i think that it’s normal to get flak or to be given flak . . .Because when we act , we usually do positive or negative things .. . It’s usual for person to make mistakes , and who knows , may be someone criticizes it :) so, don’t worry if someone does so :)

11:43 AM Nov 05 2009 |

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