flash back
Present Participle
flashing back
Past Tense
flashed back
Past Participle
flashed back
1
(of movies, novels, etc.) to present a scene or sequence that depicts events in the past
- The TV series frequently flashed back to the characters' early relationships to reveal how they had evolved.
- The novel effectively flashes back to the protagonist's youth, highlighting formative experiences.
- The movie constantly flashes back to the character's early relationships, demonstrating how they evolved over time.
- In the play, the scenes flash back to the characters' shared history, helping the audience understand their complex relationships.
- The film cleverly flashed back to the character's childhood to reveal the origins of his phobias.
Synonyms:
2
to suddenly and vividly remember a past event, often in a way that feels as if one is reliving it
- The sight of the old photograph made her flash back to the family vacations she used to take.
- The song playing on the radio made him flash back to his high school prom.
- As she browsed through her childhood diary, she flashed back to her teenage years.
- The mention of their childhood games made them both flash back to their adventures in the woods.
- The familiar taste of the dish made her flash back to family gatherings during holidays.
Synonyms:
3
to respond swiftly and often angrily to a comment, question, etc.
- When confronted with the accusation, he immediately flashed back, defending his actions.
- Her colleague's criticism led her to flash back with a pointed and heated response.
- He's known for flashing back when challenged during debates.
- The journalist didn't hesitate to flash back at the rude remark during the press conference.