English Reference

Phrasal verb

flash back

Definition

phrasal verb. to suddenly remember a past event very clearly. You use this when a memory comes into your mind like a quick picture.

phrasal verb. to experience a sudden, vivid mental image of a past event. It is also used as a narrative device to shift the story to an earlier time.

Examples

“I often flash back to my happy childhood summers.”

“While walking through the old park, he started to flash back to the day he first met his wife.”

“The protagonist begins to flash back to her traumatic experiences in the war, blurring the lines between her current reality and her fractured memories.”

Examples

simple

“I often flash back to my happy childhood summers.”

contextual

“While walking through the old park, he started to flash back to the day he first met his wife.”

complex

“The protagonist begins to flash back to her traumatic experiences in the war, blurring the lines between her current reality and her fractured memories.”

Usage

Usually followed by the preposition 'to' when naming the specific memory or time.

Teaching tip

Contrast with 'reminisce', which is usually a pleasant and intentional act, whereas 'flash back' often feels sudden or involuntary.

Pitfall

I flashed back the accident.

I flashed back to the accident.

The verb is intransitive and requires the preposition 'to' before the object of the memory.

Phrasal verb

Particles

back

Separability

inseparable

Pattern

flash + back + to + object

Synonyms

rememberrecalllook backrevisit

Antonyms

look aheadforesee

Grammar

Phrasal verbs (introduction)

This entry

Exam level
CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.B2 FirstIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.5.5–6.5TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 4.0–4.572–94TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.785–944
Level
B2 · Upper Intermediate
Updated

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