expression- flake out
Cual expresion seria conveniente para decir, "He flaked out on me" (es decir que no se comprometio lo suficiente)
Gracias, ME
23 Answers
To "flake out" on someone means to agree to do something(decir que vas a hacer algo) and not do it(y no hacerlo). A flake is someone who commits to doing things and then says they can't do what they agreed to do. A flakeeEs alguien quien constantemente dice que quiere hacer algo o que va a hacer algo pero antes de esa cosa pase, esa persona dice que no puede hacerlo por alguna razon.
"flake" (in various constructions) became popular in the '60s An important characteristic of colloquial speech in that period (and since) was the intentional use of words in a variety of vague contexts (to a large extent this was due to a distrust of people who tried to insist on more precise terminology [the thought being that they were "over-analyzing" their feelings and that they should just "go with the flow"]). Thus, "He flaked out on the couch halfway through the party.", pretty clearly means that he fell asleep (or succumbed to booze/drugs). However one could also say "He's a flake (or He's flaky.) to mean he's weird/unreliable and this leads, in turn, to "he flaked out" meaning that he was expected to behave in a certain manner but didn't (he left/he failed to perform).
Yes, I have also heard the term "flaky" used to mean "unreliable, wishy-washy, unpredictable, erratic" (in addition to "weird," which is the more common sense for those in my generation [70's/80's]). I think it is a visual allusion to a flake, which can be flip-flopped back and forth by next to nothing. So I guess if you carry that out to this verb-form ("flaked out"), Mary Elena's proposed meaning could apply. I just don't think it would be understood that way by most people with whom I am familiar.
Mary Elena should let us know exactly what it is that she is trying to say, and in which language, and then I think the answer will be obvious.
"flake" (in various constructions) became popular in the '60s An important characteristic of colloquial speech in that period (and since) was the intentional use of words in a variety of vague contexts (to a large extent this was due to a distrust of people who tried to insist on more precise terminology [the thought being that they were "over-analyzing" their feelings and that they should just "go with the flow"]). Thus, "He flaked out on the couch halfway through the party.", pretty clearly means that he fell asleep (or succumbed to booze/drugs). However one could also say "He's a flake (or He's flaky.) to mean he's weird/unreliable and this leads, in turn, to "he flaked out" meaning that he was expected to behave in a certain manner but didn't (he left/he failed to perform).
To me, to 'flake out' is like 'going crazy'.
Se volvió or Se puso loco. There would be no need to explicity state that it was on you. The context of the conversation should already imply that they were interacting with you when they 'flaked out'.
I don't want to disagree with the dictionary, but I have heard this expression a number of times, and it has always been with this meaning that Nathaniel gives us: to go crazy, to lose one's mind, to start acting weird. However, this can be an aberration of the standard usage, or just a regionalism.
I think Moe and many others missed the proposed meaning the Mary Elena gave, which is altogether different from any of the proposed meanings.
Cual expresion seria conveniente para decir, "He flaked out on me" (es decir que no se comprometio lo suficiente)
Gracias, ME
Her suggested meaning (which may be altogether incorrect) would be the equivalent of "he backed out on me" or "he dropped the ball on me" or "he wimped out on me." The bottom line is that Mary Elena needs to respond with more information as to source and context, and her suggested meaning.
If I had come across this sentence in translating (and again, this is based on my exposure to this colloquialism), I would have translated it as:
"(ÿl) Se me volvió loco", or "(ÿl) Se me puso extraño/raro", depending on the context. That gets the "on me" idea in there, as well.
I strongly suggest that Mary Elena re-enter this thread and define what she means when she uses the words "Flake out".
My dictionary defines "flake out" as: to become unconscious as through extreme exhaustion. This definition is also found at the URL given by Pablo. See:
http://www.thefreedictionary.com/flake+out
where ½ way down the page you will read:
flake out - Verb - Informal: to collapse or fall asleep from exhaustion
Collins Essential English Dictionary 2nd Edition 2006 © HarperCollins Publishers 2004, 2006
As I read them, none of the eight replies above are focused on the definition "Passed out" "asleep", "unconscious".
I propose Mary Elena needs to give us some direction as to what she means by "flake out".
I beg to differ Moe. Rendirse has the same sense as cansarse which means to wear oneself out which in itself can result in sleep or unconsciousness.
From what I understand, she's referring to 'flake-out' as ditching someone or standing someone up, like on a date.
To "flake out" on someone means to agree to do something(decir que vas a hacer algo) and not do it(y no hacerlo). A flake is someone who commits to doing things and then says they can't do what they agreed to do.
Beware of making dogmatic statements about meaning/usage based on your personal experience (or the usage in your linguistic community) without labeling them as such.
I re-read all of the prior replies (including my own) and the only sense that I have never encountered was "He flaked out." to mean "He went crazy/ballistic." Based on my experience with the colloquial American English of the '60s, I would suspect a confusion with "he freaked out". The OED supports only one meaning (with citations ranging from 1943-1971) and that is "2. to flake (out): to faint, fall asleep (from exhaustion, drunkenness, etc.)".
On the other hand, I have often heard the phrase "he is a flake" used to mean either "he is psychologically unreliable" or "he is unreliable". In addition to the meaning of "fall asleep", I have often heard (though not recently) "he flaked out" to mean "he disappointed/failed to live up to expectations" (in addition to the sense of "falling asleep").
There is a huge difference between saying "This is how I've heard the word/expression used" and "This is the only way the word/expression should be/is used"
I strongly suggest that Mary Elena re-enter this thread and define what she means when she uses the words "Flake out".
My dictionary defines "flake out" as: to become unconscious as through extreme exhaustion. This definition is also found at the URL given by Pablo. See:
http://www.thefreedictionary.com/flake+out
where ½ way down the page you will read:
flake out - Verb - Informal: to collapse or fall asleep from exhaustion
Collins Essential English Dictionary 2nd Edition 2006 © HarperCollins Publishers 2004, 2006
As I read them, none of the eight replies above are focused on the definition "Passed out" "asleep", "unconscious".
I propose Mary Elena needs to give us some direction as to what she means by "flake out".
To "flake out" on someone means to agree to do something(decir que vas a hacer algo) and not do it(y no hacerlo). A flake is someone who commits to doing things and then says they can't do what they agreed to do.
I haven't come across it used like this before. Is this meaning restricted to the Georgia only, or do people from other states use it, too?
In English the idiom flaked out means that someone takes a nap or goes to sleep, possibly when the person should have been doing something else. For instance, "Just as I was about to ask Melvin to help me move the furniture he flaked out on me on the couch."
In English it does not have a negative connotation, but a humorous one or a disappointing one.
Perhaps now (or perhaps in Georgia) but there have been times (and places) when (where) the phrase could also mean "He wimped out." or "he freaked out."
Thank you, samdie. I was beginning to think that only my generation had assigned that meaning to the phrase (freaked out). I had never heard it used before to mean anything else, but I see from this discussion and the dictionary that the original definition was something different, and that some people in this country have a different understanding of it than I do.
In English the idiom flaked out means that someone takes a nap or goes to sleep, possibly when the person should have been doing something else. For instance, "Just as I was about to ask Melvin to help me move the furniture he flaked out on me on the couch."
In English it does not have a negative connotation, but a humorous one or a disappointing one.
Perhaps now (or perhaps in Georgia) but there have been times (and places) when (where) the phrase could also mean "He wimped out." or "he freaked out."
Holy Cow! Cowabunga Dude! and ¡Ay Dios Mio!
I had this whole great big long erudite overkill rebuttal ready for Eddy and then a funny thing happened on my way to "take him on" so to speak.
As a final check, before posting this rant, I thought I should look up flake in our online dictionary. I clicked on the dictionary tab. In the little window, I typed in "Flake". A drop down list presented itself. On the drop down list was "flake out". I clicked on "flake out".
Here is what it said:
quedarse roque (familiar) (fall asleep)
Why must I continue to re-learn the same old lessons. Why can't I remember what I already know.
Oh, well, onward and upward.
Moe
Hi Moe
You can rebut all you like but my excuse will always be that large expanse of water between us and Canada and to simply say, that is what we do and say over here, hehe.
In English the idiom flaked out means that someone takes a nap or goes to sleep, possibly when the person should have been doing something else. For instance, "Just as I was about to ask Melvin to help me move the furniture he flaked out on me on the couch."
In English it does not have a negative connotation, but a humorous one or a disappointing one.
Holy Cow! Cowabunga Dude! and ¡Ay Dios Mio!
I had this whole great big long erudite overkill rebuttal ready for Eddy and then a funny thing happened on my way to "take him on" so to speak.
As a final check, before posting this rant, I thought I should look up flake in our online dictionary. I clicked on the dictionary tab. In the little window, I typed in "Flake". A drop down list presented itself. On the drop down list was "flake out". I clicked on "flake out".
Here is what it said:
quedarse roque (familiar) (fall asleep)
Why must I continue to re-learn the same old lessons. Why can't I remember what I already know.
Oh, well, onward and upward.
Moe
I strongly suggest that Mary Elena re-enter this thread and define what she means when she uses the words "Flake out".
My dictionary defines "flake out" as: to become unconscious as through extreme exhaustion. This definition is also found at the URL given by Pablo. See:
http://www.thefreedictionary.com/flake+out
where ½ way down the page you will read:
flake out - Verb - Informal: to collapse or fall asleep from exhaustion
Collins Essential English Dictionary 2nd Edition 2006 © HarperCollins Publishers 2004, 2006
As I read them, none of the eight replies above are focused on the definition "Passed out" "asleep", "unconscious".
I propose Mary Elena needs to give us some direction as to what she means by "flake out".
I beg to differ Moe. Rendirse has the same sense as cansarse which means to wear oneself out which in itself can result in sleep or unconsciousness.
To me, to 'flake out' is like 'going crazy'.
Se volvió or Se puso loco. There would be no need to explicity state that it was on you. The context of the conversation should already imply that they were interacting with you when they 'flaked out'.
