To flex is to show off. It comes from bodybuilding, where flexing your muscles is a display of strength. In slang, it means showing off wealth, success, or status. A flex can be a new car, a designer bag, or a high score. It can be subtle or obvious. "Not to flex, but I got an A." That is a flex. It is also an admission.

Flexing is common on social media. People post vacation photos, expensive meals, and workout progress. Some flexes are honest. Some are fake. A rented Lamborghini is a fake flex. A real one is earned. The word is not always negative. A flex can be a celebration. It can be a reward. It can be a joke.

Related slang

• Humble brag: a flex disguised as modesty.
• Weird flex: a flex that is strange or irrelevant.
• Flex zone: an area where showing off is expected.
• Drip: a fashion flex.

Flexing is human. We all want to be seen. The word just names it. It takes the shame out of showing off. It says, "I did this, and I am proud." That is not always bad. It depends on the context. A flex in a group chat is fun. A flex at a funeral is not.