# flounce off

CEFR C1 · Phrasal verb

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/flounce-off
Updated: 2026-04-24

## Definition

to leave a place or a person in an angry or annoyed way, often moving your body to show you are upset.

For teachers: to depart in a sudden, impatient, or exaggeratedly indignant manner; often implies a performative display of resentment or wounded pride.

## Examples

- She didn't like my answer, so she flounced off to her room.
- After the manager rejected his request for a raise, Mark flounced off without saying goodbye to his colleagues.
- Offended by the critic's dismissive tone, the artist gathered her belongings and flounced off, leaving the interviewers in stunned silence.

## Pitfalls

- Not "He flounced off the room." but "He flounced off to his room." — 'flounce off' is usually intransitive; use 'to' or 'into' if you want to mention the destination.

## Usage notes

- usually describes a physical movement that expresses a dramatic or childish emotional state.
- Teaching tip: the verb 'flounce' suggests bouncy or jerky movements; help students visualize the physical 'drama' of the exit to distinguish it from a simple 'walk away'.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.