flex

flex (one's) muscle(s)

1. Literally, to contract one's muscles, especially to demonstrate their size and strength. He's so vain, flexing his muscles in the mirror whenever he thinks no one is looking. She flexed her muscles and told us not to mess with her brother again.
2. By extension, to demonstrate one's influence, power, or strength. The small but outspoken nation has been flexing its muscles lately, with a wide range of military demonstrations. The wealthy business tycoon flexed his muscle to get the charges dropped against his son.
See also: flex

flex (something) out of shape

To cause something to become misshapen or misaligned. That car accident really flexed my passenger-side door out of shape.
See also: flex, of, out, shape

flexed out of shape

Misshapen or misaligned. Ever since the car accident, my passenger-side door has been flexed out of shape.
See also: flex, of, out, shape
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.

flex something out of shape

to bend something out of its normal shape. Don't flex all the hangers out of shape. We need a few in the closet. Who flexed the gate out of shape?
See also: flex, of, out, shape

flexed out of shape

Sl. very angry; bent out of shape. The boss was completely flexed out of shape. I am truly flexed out of shape.
See also: flex, of, out, shape
McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs.

flex one's muscles

Show off one's strength or power, as in The boys love flexing their muscles, or The new department head has decided to flex her muscles. [Early 1900s]
See also: flex, muscle
The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer.

flex your muscles

or

flex your muscle

COMMON If people or organizations flex their muscles or flex their muscle, they behave in a way that is intended to show that they have power and are considering using it. A pro-democracy movement is starting to flex its muscles. The miners' actions last year seem to have encouraged workers in the oil industry to flex their industrial muscle.
See also: flex, muscle
Collins COBUILD Idioms Dictionary, 3rd ed.

flex your muscles

give a show of strength or power.
1998 Times Mr Prescott is flexing his muscles and the City is wondering just how far he is prepared to go.
See also: flex, muscle
Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary

flex your ˈmuscles

show that you are ready and prepared to use your power, abilities, etc: He’s flexing his muscles, waiting for the day he becomes president.
Athletes flex (= stretch and tighten) their muscles before a race, a fight, a game, etc.
See also: flex, muscle
Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary

flexed out of shape

mod. very angry; bent out of shape. The boss was completely flexed out of shape.
See also: flex, of, out, shape
McGraw-Hill's Dictionary of American Slang and Colloquial Expressions

flex (one's) muscles

Informal
To exhibit or show off one's strength.
See also: flex, muscle
American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition.
See also:
  • flex (one's) muscle(s)
  • flex muscles
  • flex one's muscles
  • flex your muscles
  • muscle up
  • glutes
  • yokes
  • beer muscles
  • muscle
  • limber up
References in periodicals archive
Polt still sees more land available in the region for smaller flex spaces over the next few years, though the market is expanding further from Lehigh and Northampton counties and away from major highways.
Recent investments make case for flex space
"When Arnold asked him how he did it, Flex joked: 'Because I read your encyclopedia of bodybuilding.'.
Scrum-half Lewis reveals inspiration as she keeps it in family
Miller has also joined The Flex Company and will be leading its Research and Development team.
Menstrual Disc Maker Flex Company Acquires Competitor Keela
In our benchmark tests, the tbook flex doesn't fare as well as the hybrid machines we have tested so far.
Smartron t.book Flex Core i5 Review
Flex circuit designs always contain tradeoffs in electrical and mechanical performances.
Flexible 3D circuits: power medical devices
Once again, your flex circuit manufacturer may not be able to tell you everything that will work, but I can guarantee that they will know what does not work (those experiences are hard to forget).
Conductor routing on flex boards: Part two of how to design a flex circuit
Its primary technology is the Flex system, which is designed to provide a platform for enhanced visualization and enable two-handed dexterity with compatible third-party instruments providing tactile feedback.
Medrobotics Flex system approved in European Union
Tobii Sono Flex runs on Android 2.3 or later and according to the manufacturer it runs on most Android phones and tablets.
Tobii Technology releases Sono Flex for Android
Norwegian-controlled floating LNG production units developer FLEX LNG Ltd said on Thursday (16 August) that it plans to carry out a private placement to finance the second instalment for its first floating LNG production vessel, currently under construction at Samsung Heavy Industries.
FLEX LNG Ltd plans to raise USD170m in private placement
Specifically, it addresses REAP Flex, a program that allows rural districts additional control over how to spend portions of their federal funding.
Evaluation of Flexibility Under "No Child Left Behind": Volume III--The Rural Education Achievement Program (REAP Flex)
Traditional PCB design tools are not easy to use for designing flex circuitry--and not just because they try to draw everything at 45[degrees] angles.
CAD systems for flex circuit design: when it comes to designing for flex, some tools are more adaptable
Cars that run on either gasoline or alcohol or both in a mixture--known locally as a "flex" car--have captured the entire world's attention.
A tank half-full: Brazil pulls ahead in the worldwide race for alternative-fuel automobiles
Adobe Systems, Inc., has announced the public beta of Adobe Flex 2.0 product line and Adobe Rash Player 8.5, an application development solution for delivering Rich Internet Applications.
Adobe releases Flex 2.0 beta products