flake
Translation
flake, unreliable person
Examples
A flake of paint came off the wall.
A flake of paint came off the wall.
He's such a flake; he never shows up.
He's such a flake; he never shows up.
Grammar Patterns
((a flake of sth.)) a small piece of (sth.) A flake of paint came off the wall.
((sb.)) is a flake (sb.) is an unreliable person He's such a flake; he never shows up.
Similar Words
Literal: chip, fragment; Informal: unreliable person
Etymology
Germanic origin. Refers to a small, thin piece, like a snowflake or cornflake.
Memory Tips
Think of a person whose plans are as fragile as a snowflake and easily fall apart.