What's a flake?
 

I've heard the term"flake" a few times here on TFp, although never anywhere else. In context it seems to mean superficial, selfish, pretty among with some other similar adjectives. However i was wondering what its exact meaning and correct usage were?

Thanks, sorry to sound like a flake :p

The Merriam-Webster site defines someone who's flaky as "markedly odd or unconventional".

My own personnal connotation of a "flake" is someone who can't be counted on, a bit of an airhead.

Its a Cadbury's chocolate bar :D

Websters deffinition is the meaning that I have always understood,

Watch the movie Clueless and observe the main characters. This would have to be the ultimate display of flakes in their natural enviroment.

Also California has the largest Flake population with up to and including 25% of the population being flakey.

I think i need a better dictionary, cause its not listed as any kind of adjective of a person behaviours. More so dealing with snow flakes, a thin piece of something, or the name of some gummy shark fish.

Although, i see it mainly pertains to airheads in as a slang term.
I've seen clueless so i get the idea :cool:

I am surrounded by flakes. Unreliable people who make promises they cannot keep... pathologically. It's a real drag on you when you find you can't rely on anyone to do what they say they will.. even if you pay them ahead of time.

People who you cannot depend on, really. Our guitarist is a flake [i'm the vocalist]. Bastard never picks me up like he says he will. Always has some sort of excuse. "No gas", "No time", "Your place is too far".

Urgh.

I find that people that have flaky tendencies should NEVER be paid in advance. That takes away their motivation for working.

This applies to mechanics, handymen, contractors, etc.

Flakes also borrow stuff and don't return it. The lender has to chase after them and get the borrowed item back. This is a pet peeve of mine.

A flake to me is someone who has no grounding in reality at all. Naive, but painfully so, usually to their own detriment or to the detriment of others.

i LOVE flake!!!

You know, I used to have that problem. Then I switched to Head & Shoulders, and wow, what a difference!
Zing!

sk

A flake is an odd, slightly dumber-than-average person.

A good example of a flake would be the surfer-guy Jeff Spicoli, that Sean Penn played in Fast Times At Ridgemont High.

I've never heard of a person being categorized as a flake simply for being inconsiderate, but then again, meanings morph over time.

Jeff Spicoli was not a flake... he was a genious dude.

Heres lookin at you DD

Flakiness has nothing to do with intelligence, in my opinion. As Halx says, it's about whether you can be counted on or not. Hence the use of "flake" as a verb: he flaked on me, he flaked out, etc.

I know some very smart people who won't carry through on what they promise, and _always_ have a very good reason (they are smart, after all). But two or three "very good reasons" later, one begins to see the truth.

this is exactly how i would describe a flake! Thanks lurkette

You need to get out of California then buddy! JK, but seriously, I found that my time on the West Coast was very populated with flakes. People seem more eager to please when face to face, but then don't come through in the end. On the other hand, I know some pretty serious flakes over here on the east coast as well. If you ever do want to come out east for a while, I'd be interested to know your thoughts.

Flakiness can end freindships. My definition of a flake is someone who knowingly and intentionally misrepresents themselves for their own selfish reasons, with no thought to how it will effect others.

You might want to listen to Frank Zappa - Flakes, if you want a little humourous explanation

Flakes are my FAVOURITES!!!!

YUM! YUM! YUM!
once again i´m jealous of Halx. first it was the naked ladies, now its the chocolatey colleagues.

a delicious candy
http://www.cadbury.com.au/history/1920_flake.gif

Damn - beaten to it. That's what I was going to post when I saw this thread!!

I thought a flake was the minimum possible measurement of breakfast cereal. :D

um i think its that stuff that comes outta your hair or that white stuff that falls from the sky