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"Cringe" is an intransitive verb which is often translated as "encogerse", and "flinch" is an intransitive verb which is often translated as "estremecerse". Learn more about the difference between "cringe" and "flinch" below.
cringe(
krihnj
)An intransitive verb is one that does not require a direct object (e.g., The man sneezed.).
1. (to cower)
a. encogerse
The police officer found the children cringing in fear in the closet.El policía encontró a los niños encogidos de miedo en el armario.
a. arrastrarse ante
The jester cringed before the king hoping to receive his favor.El bufón se arrastraba ante el rey esperando recibir sus favores.
a. sentir vergüenza ajena
Rogelio's presentation was so poorly prepared that it made everyone cringe.La presentación de Rogelio estaba tan mal preparada que todos sentimos vergüenza ajena.
b. morirse de vergüenza
We couldn't help but cringe listening to Peter trying out pickup line after pickup line on the poor girl.Nos morimos de vergüenza escuchando a Peter echarle un piropo tras otro a la pobre chica.
An adjective is a word that describes a noun (e.g., the big dog).
a. para morirse de vergüenza
Have you seen that video of the politician rapping? It's so cringe!¿Has visto ese video del político rapeando? iEs sin duda para morirse de vergüenza!
b. para morirse de pena (Latin America) (Southern Cone)
Regionalism used in Latin America: all the countries in South America, Central America, and the Caribbean. Does not include Spain.
How was the show? - Well, to be honest, the lead singer's performance was super cringe.¿Qué tal el espectáculo? - Pues, para ser sincera, la actuación del líder del grupo fue sin duda para morirse de pena.
c. embarazoso
Dad! Your jokes are so cringe! - Ha, you know you love them!¡Papá! ¡Tus chistes son tan embarazosos! - Ja, ¡en verdad te encantan!
d. incómodo
How was dinner with your boss? - Ugh, so cringe. My boss and his wife argued through the whole dinner!¿Qué tal la comida con tu jefe? - Uf, bien incómoda. Mi jefe y su esposa discutieron durante toda la cena.
flinch(
flihnch
)An intransitive verb is one that does not require a direct object (e.g., The man sneezed.).
1. (to recoil)
a. estremecerse
Briana flinched when the hawk flew within inches of her face.Briana se estremeció cuando el halcón pasó volando a unas pulgadas de su cara.
b. encogerse
The singer flinched when a fly landed on his microphone, but kept on singing.El cantante se encogió cuando una mosca se posó en el micrófono, pero siguió cantando.
a. rehuir de
Despite all of the difficulties of being a single parent, Monica never flinched from her motherly duties.A pesar de todas las dificultades de ser madre soltera, Mónica nunca rehuyó de sus responsabilidades de madre.
b. no direct translation
This refers to an idiomatic word or phrase for which there is no word-for-word translation.
Alicia is not a woman who will flinch from her responsibilities.Alicia no es una mujer que va a dejar de cumplir sus responsabilidades.
Peter never flinched from making tough decisions.Peter nunca se echó atrás a la hora de tomar decisiones difíciles.
