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Shirk vs Flinch - What's the difference?

shirk | flinch |

As verbs the difference between shirk and flinch

is that shirk is to avoid, especially a duty, responsibility, etc; to stay away from while flinch is to make a sudden, involuntary movement in response to a (usually negative) stimulus.

As nouns the difference between shirk and flinch

is that shirk is one who shirks or shirk can be (islam) the unforgivable sin of idolatry while flinch is a reflexive jerking away.

shirk

English

Etymology 1

First attested use in 1625 – 1635, apparently from association with shark (verb form), or from (etyl) .

Verb

(en verb)
  • To avoid, especially a duty, responsibility, etc.; to stay away from.
  • * Hare
  • the usual makeshift by which they try to shirk difficulties
  • To evade an obligation; to avoid the performance of duty, as by running away.
  • If you have a job, don't shirk from it by staying off work.
  • * Byron
  • One of the cities shirked from the league.
  • To procure by petty fraud and trickery; to obtain by mean solicitation.
  • * Bishop Rainbow
  • You that never heard the call of any vocation, that shirk living from others, but time from yourselves.
    Synonyms
    * blow off (US) * goldbrick (dated)
    See also
    * malinger

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • one who shirks
  • Etymology 2

    (etyl) (širk , "idolatry").

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • (Islam) the unforgivable sin of idolatry
  • References

    English heteronyms

    flinch

    English

    Noun

    (es)
  • A reflexive jerking away.
  • My eye doctor hates the flinch I have every time he tries to get near my eyes.

    Verb

  • To make a sudden, involuntary movement in response to a (usually negative) stimulus.
  • * John Locke
  • A child, by a constant course of kindness, may be accustomed to bear very rough usage without flinching or complaining.
  • To dodge (a question), to avoid an unpleasant task or duty
  • To let the foot slip from a ball, when attempting to give a tight croquet.
  • References