Courtesy of Merriam-Webster Online
Flout: to treat with contemptuous disregard : scorn, "flouting the rules"
Flaunt:
intransitive verbMiss Grammar reports with regret that it is gradually becoming acceptable to misuse flaunt as a synonym for flout. But of course, you, not wishing to contribute to the erosion of the English language, will want to avoid doing that.
1 : to display or obtrude oneself to public notice; "a great flaunting crowd" (Charles Dickens)
2 : to wave or flutter showily; "The flag flaunts in the breeze."
transitive verb
1 : to display ostentatiously or impudently : parade; "Flaunting his superiority," or, "If you've got it, flaunt it."
4 comments:
Somehow, it never occurred to me to confuse the two. I guess my mother's just too good a teacher. :)
She must be, and good for her!
I do from time to time find someone using "flaunt" when they meant "flout".
Well, well, aren't we flaunting our flouting of the English language?
Well, the only thing we can do with Miss Grammar is just nod and smile, 'cause there's no doubt she's a real stickler when it comes to language; in fact, Miss Grammar is a language Nazi.
I passed on your comment to her and her reply was, "Mea culpa!" which just shows one can do the same thing in Latin.
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