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7ouD Posted 15 years ago
Jokes, Puzzles & Riddles

Cringe and flinch

What are the differences between Cringe and flinch ?

I always see these two words, but dont know how to use it!

Thanks
  

Top answer

Hello, 7ouD - and welcome to English Forums. As I use them, 'cringe' is a psychological reaction, a withdrawal from a situation or a thought that is repellent or unpleasant in some way, while 'flinch' is a sudden reflexive physical avoidance reaction to some sort of physical threat.

— Mister Micawber

  • Hello, 7ouD - and welcome to English Forums.
  • As I use them, 'cringe' is a psychological reaction, a withdrawal from a situation or a thought that is repellent or unpleasant in some way, while 'flinch' is a sudden reflexive physical avoidance reaction to some sort of physical threat.
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5 Answers
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Hello, 7ouD - and welcome to English Forums.

As I use them, 'cringe' is a psychological reaction, a withdrawal from a situation or a thought that is repellent or unpleasant in some way, while 'flinch' is a sudden reflexive physical avoidance reaction to some sort of physical threat.
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Mister Micawber'flinch' is a sudden reflexive physical avoidance reaction to some sort of physical threat.
Q1) Then is this imaginable conversation correct?

A: (takes a pose as if he beats B in his face.)
B: (is flinched) Oh....
A: hehe.. you're flinched! dumb! (jeer at B)

Q2) In Korean, we have kind of a slang expression. Does
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A: (takes a pose as if he would beat B in his face)
B: (flinches) Oh....
A: Hehe.. you flinched! Dumb! (jeers at B)

Yes, cringed is not appropriate there.
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Q2) In Korean, we have kind of a slang expression. Does English have one instead of flinch?
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Flinch is pretty slangy in itself (short and rather onomatopoetic); nothing more so springs to mind.
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