flex
- 01 B2 Upper Intermediate
v.to tighten your muscles to show how strong you are.
v.to contract or tighten a muscle, typically to demonstrate strength or prepare for physical exertion.
Simple“The bodybuilder began to flex his arms as soon as he stepped onto the stage.”
In context“Before the heavy lifting began, the athlete paused to flex his quadriceps, ensuring the muscles were warm and responsive.”
- 02 B2 Upper Intermediate
v.to bend something that is flexible.
v.to bend a functional part or a flexible material without breaking it.
Simple“You can flex the plastic ruler quite a bit before it snaps.”
In context“Modern aircraft wings are designed to flex significantly during turbulence to absorb structural stress.”
Antonymsstiffenstraighten - 03 B2 Upper Intermediate
v.to show off your money, success, or expensive things to impress people.
v.to boast or flaunt one's wealth, status, or achievements in an ostentatious manner.
Simple“He bought a luxury watch just to flex on his old classmates.”
In context“Social media influencers often use their platforms to flex their lifestyle, posting photos of private jets and designer clothing to maintain their brand image.”
- 04 B2 Upper Intermediate
n.an act of showing off or something that is impressive.
n.an instance of boasting or an ostentatious display intended to impress others.
Simple“Posting your high test scores on the group chat was a bit of a flex.”
In context“Mentioning his connection to the CEO during the first five minutes of the interview was a subtle but clear flex.”
UsageOften used in the phrase 'weird flex but okay' to describe a strange boast.
- 05 C1 Advanced
n.a flexible electrical wire or cord used for a tool or lamp.
n.a flexible, insulated electrical cable, typically connecting an appliance to a mains plug.
Simple“The iron has a long flex so you can reach across the whole board.”
In context“The safety inspector noted that the flex on the industrial vacuum was frayed and required immediate replacement.”
“I get to make this show, play the roles and flex the muscles that I never get to flex.”
From Latin flexus, past participle of flecto (“to bend”).
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.