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flout the law [1 record]

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Record 1 1991-08-28

English

Subject field(s)
  • Practice and Procedural Law
  • Phraseology
OBS

There are few pairs of words more frequently misused, each for the other, than "flaunt" and "flout" ... The distinction is really very simple. "Flaunt" means to "show something off proudly or boastfully": "The drum corps proudly flaunts its colors." "Flout" means to "show scorn or contempt for a person or thing": "The speeding driver flouts the law."

OBS

Confusion of these terms is distressingly common. "Flout" means "to contravene or disregard; to treat with contempt." "Flaunt" means "to show off or parade (something) in an ostentatious manner," but is often incorrectly used for "flout", perhaps because it is misunderstood as a telescoped version of "flout" and "taunt".

OBS

The use of "flaunt" to mean "to ignore or treat with disdain" is strongly objected by many usage guides, which insist that only "flout" can properly express this meaning ... many regard the senses of "flaunt" and "flout" as entirely unrelated and concerned speakers and writers still continue to keep them separate.

Key term(s)
  • flaunting of the law

French

Domaine(s)
  • Droit judiciaire
  • Phraséologie
OBS

Flout = faire fi de; passer outre à.

Spanish

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