**flash**
520
smile. 3 [I+adv/prep] to move very fast: *The days seem to flash by.* | (fig.) *An intriguing idea suddenly flashed across/into/through my mind.* 4 [T+obj+adv/prep] to show for a moment: *They flashed a message up on the cinema screen.* | *She flashed a £5 note at the doorman and he let her in.* | (fig.) *George certainly flashes his money around! (=makes a show of having lots of money by spending it freely)* 5 [T+obj+adv/prep] to send by radio SATELLITE etc: *They flashed the news back to London.* 6 [I] *infml* (of a man) to show the sexual organs in public, usually in order to get sexual pleasure $\rightarrow$ compare STREAK
**flash back** *phr v* [I(to)] to return suddenly to an earlier time (as if) in a FLASHBACK: *My mind flashed back to last Christmas.*
**flash forward** *phr v* [I(to)] to go forward in time in a cinema film to show what happens later in the story
**flash$^2$** *n* 1 [C(of)] a sudden quick bright light: *Flashes of lightning illuminated the scene.* | (fig.) *a sudden flash of inspiration/wit* 2 [C] a single movement of a light or flag in signalling 3 [C] *infml* a quick look; GLIMPSE: *Go on, give me a quick flash!* 4 [C] a short news report: *They interrupted the programme with a news flash saying the President had died.* 5 [C;U] (in photography) the method or apparatus for taking photographs in the dark: *Did you use a flash?* 6 [C] the sign of a military group, worn on the shoulder of a uniform 7 **flash in the pan** a sudden success that is not repeated: *His brilliant novel turned out to be a flash in the pan; he never wrote another one.* 8 **in a/like a/quick as a flash** *infml* very quickly, suddenly, or soon; (almost) at once: *I'll be back in a flash.*
**flash$^3$** *adj* 1 [A] a) (of a flood, fire etc) sudden, violent, and short: *Flash fires have broken out in several parts of the country.* b) (in comb.) done very quickly: *flash-freezing* $\rightarrow$ see also FLASH FLOOD 2 *BrE infml, often derog* modern, attractive, and expensive-looking; FLASHY: *That's a very flash car — where did you get it?*
**Flash** trademark a type of cleaning substance for floors and other hard surfaces, sold in the UK as a liquid or powder
**flash$\cdot$back** /'flæʃbæk/ *n* 1 [C;U] a scene in a film, play etc that goes back in time to show what happened earlier in the story: *The events of his childhood are shown in (a) flashback.* $\rightarrow$ see also FLASH BACK 2 [C] a burst of flame backwards up a tube, into a container etc
**flash$\cdot$bulb** /'flæʃbʌlb/ *n* an electric lamp in which metal wire or FOIL burns brightly for a moment, used for taking a photograph
**'flash burn** *n* a burn caused by a very sudden, very strong heat, e.g. when there is an explosion
**flash$\cdot$card** /'flæʃkɑ:d||-kɑ:rd/ *n* a card with a word, number, or picture on it used in teaching
**flash$\cdot$cube** /'flæʃkju:b/ *n* four flashbulbs packed together, for taking four photographs one after the other
**flash$\cdot$er** /'flæʃəʳ/ *n* 1 *slang* a man who habitually shows his sexual parts unexpectedly to strangers, especially women, and is excited by the thought of shocking them $\rightarrow$ compare STREAKER; see also DIRTY MAC BRIGADE 2 something that flashes, such as a traffic signal or a light on a car
**,flash 'flood** *n* a very sudden flood in a small area because of extremely heavy rain
**,flash 'freeze** *v* [T] *AmE* for QUICKFREEZE
**,Flash 'Gordon** a character who originally appeared in a US COMIC and films in the 1930s. Flash Gordon is a brave hero who travels through space and saves the Earth from many dangers.
**flash$\cdot$gun** /'flæʃgʌn/ *n* a piece of equipment which holds a FLASHBULB and makes it work at the moment when the photograph is taken
**flash$\cdot$light** /'flæʃlaɪt/ *n* 1 also **flash** *especially BrE* a piece of equipment for taking flash photographs: *Did you bring your flashlight/your flash?* 2 *especially AmE* a small electric light carried in the hand to give light; TORCH
**Flash$\cdot$man** /'flæʃmən/ a character in the 19th century novel TOM BROWN'S SCHOOLDAYS who is a cruel BULLY and treats the younger boys at his school very badly
**'flash point** *n* [C;U] 1 the lowest temperature at which the gas (VAPOUR) from oil will burn if a flame is put near it 2 a point or place at which violent action may be expected: *I could tell from the look in his eyes that he was reaching (his) flash point.* | *Beirut is one of the flash points of the Middle East.*
**flash$\cdot$y** /'flæʃi/ *adj derog* unpleasantly big, bright, decorated etc, and perhaps not of good quality: *a large flashy car* | *cheap flashy clothes* $\rightarrow$ compare FLASH$^3$ —**-ily** *adv: flashily dressed* —**-iness** *n* [U]
**flasks**
[Diagram: flasks, carafe, thermos flask, hip flask]
**flask** /flɑ:sk||flæsk/ *n* 1 a narrow-necked bottle used in a LABORATORY 2 a flat bottle for carrying alcohol or other drinks in one's pocket, fastened to one's belt etc $\rightarrow$ see also HIP FLASK 3 also **thermos flask, thermos** a bottle with two thin glass walls between which there is a VACUUM used to keep liquids either hot or cold 4 [(of)] the amount of liquid that a flask contains: *We drank a whole flask of tea/whisky.*
**flat$^1$** /flæt/ *n* 1 [C] *BrE* | **apartment** *especially AmE* a set of rooms in a building, especially on one floor, including a kitchen and bathroom: *They divided the house into flats.* | *Who lives in the top flat?* | *They're building a block of flats.* $\rightarrow$ see HOUSE (USAGE); see colour photo on page A40 2 [C] also **flats** *pl.* — a low level plain, especially near water: *mud flats* 3 [the (of)] the flat part or side: *I hit him with the flat of my hand/my sword.* 4 [C] *especially AmE* a flat tyre: *Stop - I think we've got a flat!* 5 [C] (in music) a) a FLAT note b) the sign (♭) for this $\rightarrow$ compare SHARP, NATURAL 6 [C] a flat movable piece of stage scenery 7 **on the flat** not on a slope; on level ground: *I can walk at four miles an hour on the flat.* $\rightarrow$ see also FLATS
**flat$^2$** *adj* **-tt-** 1 smooth and level; not rounded or lumpy: *I need something flat to write on.* | *I spread the map out flat on the floor.* | *a flat surface* 2 not very thick or high: *flat cakes* | *a flat hat* 3 (of a tyre) without enough air in it 4 *BrE* (of a BATTERY) || **dead** *AmE* having lost some or all of its electrical power 5 (of beer and other gassy drinks, or their taste) no longer fresh because the gas has been lost 6 [F] dull and lifeless: *Everything seems so flat after the Christmas and New Year celebrations are over.* 7 [F] (in music) lower than the correct note: *You're flat! Sing it again.* $\rightarrow$ compare SHARP$^1$ 8 [after *n*] (of a note in music) lower than the stated note by a SEMITONE: *a symphony in the key of E flat* $\rightarrow$ compare SHARP$^1$, NATURAL$^1$ 9 [A no comp.] complete; firm; with no more argument: *My request was met with a flat refusal.* | *The allegations provoked a flat denial.* | *I won't go and that's flat!* 10 [A] (of an amount of money, a charge etc) fixed; not variable: *They charge a flat rate/flat fee.* $\rightarrow$ see also FLATLY, **fall flat (FALL$^1$), lay someone/something flat (LAY$^2$)** 11 **flat as a pancake** very flat —**-ness** *n* [U]
**flat$^3$** *adv* 1 in or into a flat or level position: *Spread the map out flat on the floor.* 2 (in music) lower than the correct note: *You're singing flat.* $\rightarrow$ compare SHARP$^2$ 3 *infml* (after any expression of time, showing surprise at its shortness) exactly; and not more: *I got dressed in three minutes flat.* 4 **flat broke** completely without money 5 **flat out** at full speed: *He worked flat out to get it finished.* | *The car does 100 miles an hour flat out.*
**,flat 'cap** *n* a CLOTH CAP
**'flat car** *n AmE* a flat railway car used to carry goods
**,flat-'chested** *adj usually derog* (of a woman) having small breasts
**,Flat 'Earth So,ciety, the** an organization which believes that the Earth is flat and that science cannot be trusted. People sometimes mention its name when they are talking about someone whose ideas are impractical or unscientific.
**,flat 'feet** *n* [P] a condition in which the curved bone