flake off
Definition
- Verb (intransitive):
- To separate or detach from a surface in the form of thin, small, flat pieces or scales.
- To come off in layers or small fragments, often due to age, wear, or poor adhesion.
Usage
- This verb describes the process where a material (like paint, skin, or rust) detaches from the surface it was attached to. It is typically used for thin, layered materials.
- It is an intransitive verb, meaning it does not take a direct object. The thing that is flaking off is the subject of the sentence.
- It often implies a gradual or ongoing process of deterioration or detachment.
Examples
- Verb:
- The old paint on the window sill has started to flake off.
- If you have sunburn, your skin might flake off after a few days.
- The rust is flaking off the metal gate, exposing the raw steel beneath.
Advanced Usage
- "to flake off (of something)": While "flake off" is intransitive, it can be followed by a prepositional phrase beginning with "of" or "from" to indicate the source surface.
- Plaster was flaking off the ceiling.
- Gold leaf was flaking off from the picture frame.
Variants and Related Words
- Flake (verb): To come off or cause to come off in flakes. (e.g., )
- Peel off (verb): A very close synonym, often used interchangeably with "flake off," especially for materials like paint or skin.
- Chip off (verb): To break off in small pieces, often implying a harder material (like china or stone) than what typically "flakes off."
- Desquamate (verb): A formal, technical term, primarily used in medicine and biology for skin flaking off.
Synonyms
- Peel off
- Chip away
- Scale off
- Exfoliate (specifically for skin)
Related Phrasal Verbs
- Flake away: Similar to "flake off," emphasizing the gradual removal of material.
- The ancient manuscript was so dry that the ink was flaking away.
Related Idioms
- (No common idioms are directly formed from "flake off." The term is used in its literal sense.)
Verb
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come off in flakes or thin small pieces
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The paint in my house is peeling off
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