Flex
/flɛks/
Definitions
3 meaningsTo bend a limb or joint; to tighten a muscle.
/flɛks/
To bend or move (a limb or muscle).
He flexed his biceps to show off his strength.
💡 Simply: Imagine you're showing off how strong you are by making a muscle in your arm. Flexing is like making that muscle hard!
👶 For kids: To bend your arm or leg.
More Examples
The doctor asked the patient to flex her fingers.
After the workout, she could barely flex her knees.
How It's Used
"The athlete flexed his bicep."
"The patient was instructed to flex her knee."
To display something ostentatiously, especially wealth or achievement; to brag.
/flɛks/
To show off or boast about something, especially money or possessions.
He was flexing his new watch at the party.
💡 Simply: When someone 'flexes,' they're showing off something they have – like a fancy car, expensive clothes, or something they've done. It's like saying, 'Look at me!'
👶 For kids: To show off your cool stuff!
More Examples
She tried to flex her success, but it came across as arrogant.
Stop flexing your wealth; it's not impressive.
How It's Used
"He was flexing his new car on Instagram."
"She likes to flex about her designer clothes."
An instance of flexing; a display of something to impress others.
/flɛks/
The act of flexing or showing off.
His new house was such a flex.
💡 Simply: The act of showing off – like a picture of your new shoes or a video of your fancy car. It's the moment where you're trying to impress everyone.
👶 For kids: When you show off your cool stuff.
More Examples
The Instagram post was clearly a flex about his new lifestyle.
That flex wasn't very subtle.
How It's Used
"His post was a total flex of his luxury vacation."
"That new car is a major flex."
Synonyms
Idioms & expressions
flex on
To outdo someone in a show of superiority or accomplishment; to impress someone.
"He's always flexing on his friends with his new gadgets."
From Latin *flectere* 'to bend, curve'. Influenced by the Middle English word *flecchen*. The modern meaning evolved in sports and bodybuilding contexts before expanding in wider use, particularly related to showing off.
The word 'flex' has its roots in the physical act of bending but has more recently adopted a slang meaning related to showing off and boasting, particularly in modern social contexts.
Memory tip
Think of bending your arm at the elbow to show off your muscles; that's flexing.