flinch

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flinch1 / flinch/ • v. [intr.] make a quick, nervous movement of the face or body as an instinctive reaction to surprise, fear or pain: she flinched at the acidity in his voice he had faced death without flinching. ∎  (flinch from) fig. avoid doing or becoming involved in (something) through fear or anxiety: I rarely flinch from a fight when I'm sure of myself.• n. [in sing.] an act of flinching: “Don't call me that,” he said with a flinch.DERIVATIVES: flinch·er n.flinch·ing·ly adv.flinch2 • v. variant spelling of flense.

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