Flinch \Flinch\, v. i. [imp. & p. p. {Flinched}; p. pr. & vb. n. {Flinching}.] [Prob. fr. OE. flecchen to waver, give way, F. fl['e]chir, fr. L. flectere to bend; but prob. influenced by E. blench. Cf. {Flex}.] 1. To withdraw from any suffering or undertaking, from pain or danger; to fail in doing or perserving; to show signs of yielding or of suffering; to shrink; to wince; as, one of the parties flinched from the combat.
A child, by a constant course of kindness, may be accustomed to bear very rough usage without flinching or complaining. --Locke.
2. (Croquet) To let the foot slip from a ball, when attempting to give a tight croquet.
The word 'hostile' makes Sir David Lees flinch.
Dukakis, who is 5-foot-8, didn't flinch.
He was on Summer Squall's outside shoulder at the mile, and, unlike at the Blue Grass, didn't flinch.
The child's mother entered the room and screamed, causing Wessendorf to flinch and the snake to bite the child, he said.
With only about two feet separating each team from the next, the flinch of the driver's wrist can make the difference to life and limb.
"What you saw in the events of last week was a transaction that just didn't meet the flinch test.
I added unkindly. Parry did not flinch.
They don't flinch at writing them.
Why did you get into such a scrape?' The billionaire did not flinch.