He flinched a little when the book hit his chest, then edged his chair back to pick it up off the floor.

NEWYORKER: The Repatriates

But then, perhaps they'll have a point because it was up to Romney to say no to them -- and at the crucial moments, he flinched.

CNN: Romney caves to far right

And he kind of flinched and said, well, I wouldn't characterize it as a last stand.

NPR: McCain Keeps Home Fires Burning

At times members of his own government have privately flinched at things he has said, but the consensus is that they needed saying.

CNN: Mahathir Mohamad

"The cane was rife and it wasn't just a lash on the back of someone's trousers - nine times out of 10 it was six across your knuckles that would make them bleed and, if you flinched or removed your hand, you would get six more, " he said.

BBC: Suffolk

"We have never flinched from making tough decisions and feel we handled it in exactly the right way, " he said.

BBC: No changes at the top - Pickering