1. to go with impatient or impetuous, exaggerated movements: The star flounced out of the studio in a rage. 2. to throw the body about spasmodically; flounder.
Posts: 3003 | Registered: Oct 2004
| IP: Logged |
quote: 1 a : to move with exaggerated jerky or bouncy motions <flounced about the room, jerking her shoulders, gesticulating -- Agatha Christie>; also : to move so as to draw attention to oneself <flounced into the lobby> b : to go with sudden determination <flounced out in a huff>
posted
Yes, that's it. I looked up the etymology last night, actually.
Here's an online etymology: 1542, "to dash, plunge, flop," perhaps from Scand. (cf. dial. Sw. flunsa "to plunge," Norw. flunsa "to hurry," but first record of these is 200 years later than the Eng. word), said to be of imitative origin. Spelling likely influenced by bounce. Sense of "anger, impatience" began to adhere to the word 18c.
The Chambers dictionary was more certain of the Swedish flunsa as the origin.
Posts: 720 | Registered: Oct 2004
| IP: Logged |
I'll have you know that EVERYONE who knows me IRL has no problem writing my name with a capital R. Blame Hatrack! Posts: 32919 | Registered: Mar 2003
| IP: Logged |
Printer-friendly view of this topic
![[Wink]](wink.gif)
)
![[Kiss]](graemlins/kiss.gif)
![[ROFL]](graemlins/rofl.gif)
![[Dont Know]](graemlins/dontknow.gif)
![[Smile]](smile.gif)
![[Razz]](tongue.gif)
