flaky

Everyday

1. Flaky means breaking off easily into thin, flat pieces called flakes. tree →
2. Flaky skin is dry and comes off in small bits. tree →
3. (informal) A flaky person is unreliable: they forget things or cancel plans. tree →
4. (informal) Something flaky, like a wifi connection or a computer program, works only some of the time. tree →

In the lessons

In cooking, flaky pastry is light with many thin layers, like in a sausage roll or croissant. In health, dry or flaky skin may need cream. In everyday talk and stories, a flaky friend is one you cannot count on. Common phrases: «flaky pastry», «flaky skin», «flaky paint», «a bit flaky», «flaky internet».

Examples

• The sausage rolls were made with flaky pastry. tree →
• The old paint on the gate was flaky. tree →
• My lips get flaky in winter. tree →
• Don't rely on Jake — he's a bit flaky and always cancels. tree →
• The wifi is flaky in the garden. tree →
• Fish is cooked when it is white and flaky. tree →
• A Flake is a crumbly chocolate bar that goes in ice cream in the UK. tree →

Note

Comparative: flakier, flakiest. Built from «flake» + «-y». The «unreliable» meaning is informal; it is a mild criticism, not a rude word.