1 B1 neutral
For a coating or surface layer to break away in small, thin pieces.
"The old paint was flaking off the walls, revealing the plaster beneath."
inseparable
flake off
B1 neutral inseparable intransitive
For a surface material to break away in small, thin pieces.
In plain English
For small bits of something to fall off or come away from a surface.
What does "flake off" mean?
2 meanings, ordered from most common to least. Color-coded by CEFR level.
2 B1 neutral
For skin to peel away in small pieces, especially after sunburn or dryness.
"Her skin started flaking off a few days after the bad sunburn."
inseparable
Literal vs figurative
Words literally mean
Flakes (thin, flat pieces) breaking off from a surface — fully transparent.
Actually means
For small bits of something to fall off or come away from a surface.
Usage tip
Very common when describing paint, skin (especially sunburned skin), rust, plaster, and similar surfaces deteriorating. Also used as a rude dismissal in American informal English ('flake off!' = go away), though this is very crude.
Words that pair with "flake off"
Natural word combinations native speakers use most often.
paint plaster skin rust surface coating
How to conjugate "flake off"
The five tense forms you'll use most often.
Base
flake off
I/you/we/they
3rd person
flakes off
he/she/it
Past simple
flaked off
yesterday
Past participle
flaked off
have + pp
-ing form
flaking off
continuous
Hear "flake off" in the wild
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Other ways to say "flake off"
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