flank

flank
   "A Special Report on Finland tomorrow looks at the only Western nation that has to live with the Soviet Union as its neighbor on two flanks" (Times). Two points to note here. The first is that a thing can have only two flanks, so the usage above would be tautological if it weren't inaccurate. The second point is that flanks fall on either side of a body. If I am flanked by people, they are to my left and right. Finland is flanked by the Soviet Union (or at least it was at the time the sentence appeared) and Sweden, and not by the Soviet Union alone, which lay to the east and south. For a similar error, see surrounded.

Dictionary of troublesome word. . 2013.

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Synonyms:
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Look at other dictionaries:

  • Flank — (fl[a^][ng]k), n. [F. flanc, prob. fr. L. flaccus flabby, with n inserted. Cf. {Flaccid}, {Flanch}, {Flange}.] 1. The fleshy or muscular part of the side of an animal, between the ribs and the hip. See Illust. of {Beef}. [1913 Webster] 2. (Mil.)… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Flank — (fl[a^][ng]k), v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Flanked} (fl[a^][ng]kt); p. pr. & vb. n. {Flanking}.] [Cf. F. flanquer. See {Flank}, n., and cf. {Flanker}, v. t.] 1. To stand at the flank or side of; to border upon. [1913 Webster] Stately colonnades are… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Flank — may refer to: * Flank, the side of either a horse or a military unit * Flanking maneuver in military tactics * Flank (electronics), when a signal goes high or low it forms an waveform edge . * Flank, a region of the posterior torso (lower back)… …   Wikipedia

  • flank — [flaŋk] n. [ME flanke < OFr flanc < Frank * hlanka, akin to OHG hlanka, a hip, flank: for IE base see LANK] 1. the fleshy side of a person or animal between the ribs and the hip 2. a cut of beef from this part: see BEEF 3. loosely the outer …   English World dictionary

  • Flank — Flank, v. i. 1. To border; to touch. Bp. Butler. [1913 Webster] 2. To be posted on the side. [1913 Webster] …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • flank — flank; out·flank·er; …   English syllables

  • flank — index border (bound), hedge, protect Burton s Legal Thesaurus. William C. Burton. 2006 …   Law dictionary

  • flank — (n.) late O.E. flanc fleshy part of the side, from O.Fr. flanc, probably from Frankish *hlanca (Cf. O.H.G. (h)lanca, M.H.G. lanke hip joint, Ger. lenken to bend, turn, lead ), from PIE root *kleng to bend, turn (see LINK (Cf. link) (n.)). Th …   Etymology dictionary

  • flank — [n] haunch of an animate being ham, hand, hip, loin, pleuron, quarter, side, thigh, wing; concept 392 …   New thesaurus

  • flank — ► NOUN 1) the side of a person s or animal s body between the ribs and the hip. 2) the side of something such as a building or mountain. 3) the left or right side of a body of people. ► VERB ▪ be situated on each or on one side of. ORIGIN Old… …   English terms dictionary

  • flank|er — «FLANG kuhr», noun. 1. a person or thing that flanks. 2. = flankerback. (Cf. ↑flankerback) …   Useful english dictionary

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