French word

flanquer

Pronunciation

IPA/flɑ̃ke/

Meaning

  • verbslap

Example

Elle lui a flanqué une gifle.

She slapped him.

Illustration for flanquer (slap)

More examples

Elle s'est fait flanquer une gifle pendant la fête.

She was slapped during the party.

Core concept

One abrupt act of force that lands on someone or drives them away.

Common phrases

  • se faire flanquer une gifle

    be slapped

  • flanquer une gifle

    slap ___

Similar words

gifler: To slap someone's cheek or face once, leaving pain or redness.
baffer: To give someone a strong, insulting slap in colloquial speech.

Definition in French

Frapper d'une gifle ; familier, s'emploie aussi dans des locutions pour chasser quelqu'un ou lui faire peur.

Word origin

Flanquer comes from flanc, 'side', with -er, linking the verb's early meaning to striking or acting against a person's side.

Usage tips

  • In flanquer quelqu'un dehors, the verb means to throw someone out, while flanquer la frousse à quelqu'un means to scare someone.

Other meanings

  • throw outverb
  • frightenverb

Opposites

Word lists with this word