Adjective | Unreliability / Inconsistency
Encyclopedia of British Slang
FLAKY
Adjective | Mild | Unreliability / Inconsistency
FLAKY Pronunciation: /’fle?-ki/ Part of Speech: Adjective Severity Level: Mild Category: Unreliability / Inconsistency
Core Definition
Flaky describes someone who is:
Unreliable
Inconsistent
Forgetful of commitments
Socially unpredictable
It critiques follow-through.
Linguistic Origins
Derived from flake, meaning small fragment.
Metaphorically suggests someone lacking solidity.
It became common in late 20th-century informal speech.
Usage Contexts
Friendship:
Hes flaky.
Work:
Bit flaky.
Plans:
Dont be flaky.
It signals disappointment in reliability.
Emotional Register
Flaky is soft.
It implies irritation.
But not hostility.
Tone Variations
Playful:
Youre flaky.
Serious:
Hes quite flaky.
Frustrated:
So flaky.
Tone affects intensity.
Comparison with Related Terms
Dodgy suspicious
Shirk moral avoidance
Unreliable formal
Flaky socially inconsistent
Flaky focuses on commitment.
Psychological Function
Flaky polices trust.
It encourages dependability.
It signals social risk.
Cultural Insight
Flaky reflects modern social scheduling culture.
Reliability is social currency.
Flakiness costs trust.
Final Assessment
Flaky is:
Commitment-focused
Mildly critical
Modern
Socially significant
It captures inconsistency.
Without fury.
Flaky.
EXPANDED ENTRY 133
Alan Nafzger was born in Lubbock, Texas, the son Swiss immigrants. He grew up on a dairy in Windthorst, north central Texas. He earned degrees from Midwestern State University (B.A. 1985) and Texas State University (M.A. 1987). University College Dublin (Ph.D. 1991). Dr. Nafzger has entertained and educated young people in Texas colleges for 37 years. Nafzger is best known for his dark novels and experimental screenwriting. His best know scripts to date are Lenin’s Body, produced in Russia by A-Media and Sea and Sky produced in The Philippines in the Tagalog language. In 1986, Nafzger wrote the iconic feminist western novel, Gina of Quitaque. Contact: editor@prat.uk
