Tuesday, July 9, 2013

flare, flair

Flare or flare means the burning torch used as a warning or a call for help, whether it is launched into the air or set on a stand--
They sent up a signal flare every twenty minutes, hoping a ship would see it and come to their rescue.
The police came and lit a flare, so that the disabled car wouldn't cause an accident.

Flare also means to burn or blaze, especially suddenly or erratically, literally or figuratively--
The wind made the candle flare and die out.
He has a tendency to let his temper flare at the least provocation.

Flare also means to spread gradually or widen at the end--
She wants the skirt to flare, so it will look good when she skates.
He wants his pants to flare like the end of a trumpet.

Flair or flair ( rhymes with flare ) means a special knack, style or panache--
He always does things with a certain flair.
I think those old things are tacky, but he thinks they have flair.

Now that you know that, you can say--
"She is so out of it that she thinks pants that flare at the bottom have flair."

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