flaks

Noun

flak (countable and uncountable, plural flaks)

1. Ground-based anti-aircraft guns firing explosive shells.
   • Another peculiar modern development is that of […] military abbreviations in army orders such as Flak ('Fliegerabwehrkanone' or 'archie')[.]1931, W. E. Collinson, “Review: Neue Wege zum reinen Deutsch”, in The Modern Language Review, volume 26, number 2, page 230

   Synonyms:

   ack-ack, AAA, triple-A

2. Anti-aircraft shell fire.
   • At 1057 we were just over the islands and at 1100 the tail gunner reported flak at six o'clock, below.1943 November 29, “Target: Germany”, in Life, page 80

   Synonyms:

   ack-ack

3. (figuratively, informal) Adverse criticism.
   • There’s always been a built-in backlash against big-scale caprices like Raiders of the Lost Ark from people who think that $20 million should be spent on more than entertainment for its own sake. Raiders may also get flak for not being as cuddly-lovable as Star Wars, or for using those old...1981 June 25, Michael Sragow, “Inside ‘Raiders of the Lost Ark’ - The ultimate Saturday matinee”, in Rolling Stone
4. (informal) A public-relations spokesperson.
   • AIM head, Reed Irvine's diatribes are frequently published, and right-wing network flaks who regularly assail the “liberal media,” such as Michael Ledeen, are given Op-ed column space, sympathetic reviews, and a regular place on talk shows as experts.2006, Edward Herman, Noam Chomsky, A Propaganda Model, in 2006 [2001], Meenakshi Gigi Durham, Douglas Kellner (editors), Media and Cultural Studies: Keyworks, revised edition, page 277