Discussion Groups / ESL Teaching / October 2003

Magnus, I think you're right that this is a British not American
usage.  It's not that recent though - I think I've probably used it at
least since the 1970's and there's a related usage, a 'Flash Harry'
(someone who dresses expensively but probably got their money
dishonestly) which dates back to at least the 1950s and is now pretty
much out of date.

Your dictionary has a point about both words being being derogatory
though.  Flashy, defintely is, and flash, because of it's definite
informality could be seen to be so.  So you could say to a friend:-

"I hear you've got a flash new job" (you're pleased, but you don't
want your friend to think you take him *too* seriously) - but you
wouldn't say this to your boss.  Equally you could imagine this
conversation between friends, where maybe there's an element of
jealousy:-

"Have you seen my new Rolex?"
"Very flash".

My Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English from 1978 has this to
say:-

Flash - modern, attractive and costly-looking: "That's a very flash
car - where did you get it?"

Flashy - over-ornamemnted; unpleasantly big, bright, etc and perhaps
not of good quality: "a large flashy car/cheap flashy clothes" compare
flash.

Regards
DC Cat