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Also, it's "flak" (shortened form of German word for anti aircraft cannon) not "flack".

phlaque

Some dictionaries seem to have me believe either is correct.

You’re right as far as the origin goes though.

The most correct is the one least likely to cause confusion... or kick off a thread like this :-)

Probably "flak", then.

Sorry! Not my first language

i wondered about it too, i imagine it comes from "cut me some slack" = "cut the criticism", hence slack=criticism

In this context, "slack" and "flak"/"flack" are opposites

In the phrase "cut me some slack", the speaker is asking for more slack. It's like "give me a slice of meat" or "cut some meat for me".

ooooooh :) I learned something thank you!