flake off
flake off
1. To fall from something in small bits or pieces. Ugh, look at all the glitter that flaked off my birthday cards.
2. To cause something to fall from something else in small bits or pieces. In this usage, a noun or pronoun is usually used between "flake" and "off." Hey, stop touching the wall—you're flaking the paint off it!
3. slang To ignore a planned event or responsibility, often to do something frivolous instead. I flaked off class this afternoon and went to the mall instead.
See also: flake, off
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.
flake off (of) something
[for bits of something] to break away from the whole, perhaps under pressure or because of damage. (Of is usually retained before pronouns.) Little bits of marble began to flake off the marble steps. Bits flaked off from the whole.
See also: flake, off
flake something off of something
and flake something offto make bits or flakes break off from the whole. The sculptor flaked bits of stone off the block, but you could not yet see what the block was going to become. She flaked off a little more.
See also: flake, of, off
McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs.
flake off
v.
1. To break away from a surface in small, flat pieces: Rust is flaking off of the old pipes. Paint chips are flaking off from the ceiling.
2. Slang To fail to do something out of lack of interest; blow something off: Last night I flaked off doing the dishes because I was tired.
See also: flake, off
The American Heritage® Dictionary of Phrasal Verbs.
- flake off of
- flake off of (something)
- fall by the wayside
- fall by the wayside, to
- slide over
- fall in on
- fall in on (someone or something)
- fall from grace
- fall from grace, to
- fall to pieces