Is it correct to say: Flash me (Flash my phone)? (Not correct! See more…)

‘Flashing’ can have different meanings depending on the context. One meaning of ‘flashing’ is the act of briefly exposing one’s genitals often in a public or inappropriate setting. All the meanings are distinct from the Nigerian context of brief phone calls. 

In Nigeria, ‘flashing’ is  a specific practice where someone makes a brief call, often to signal or initiate communication without incurring charges, and expecting the person at the other end to call back. 

The Nigerian usage of ‘flashing’ to describe brief phone calls is a localized meaning, and it may not be immediately clear to people from other English-speaking countries. The notion of ‘flashing’ to refer to brief phone calls does not hold up in standard English language usage. 

In English, ‘flashing’ is associated with sudden, brief displays of light, signals, indecent exposure, etc but not with phone calls. 

What seems to be a connection between ‘flashing’ as a brief phone call and ‘flashing’ as a brief display of light or signal, lies in the shared concept of brevity. Just as a flashing light is a brief, attention-grabbing signal, a ‘flash call’ can also be seen as a brief, attention-grabbing signal to the recipient, prompting them to respond or call back.