flak catcher

• flak-catcher, flack catcher, flack-catcher

Coined by American author and journalist Tom Wolfe in his 1970 book Radical Chic & Mau-Mauing the Flak Catchers, from flak, meaning "criticism".

flak catcher (plural flak catchers)

1. A person whose job is to conduct public relations by shielding a more prominent person by intercepting and deflecting complaints and criticism.
   • 1995, William McKeen, Tom Wolfe, page 78:

     As the mau-mauing brigade heads downtown to the welfare office, they run into the chief flak catcher.

   • 2006, William Deverell, High Crimes:

     But as superintendent in charge of external relationships for the RCMP — image polisher and flak catcher — Edwards had learned to become patient and thick of skin.

   • 2010, David Remnick, The Bridge:

     We can't afford to go out there blind, hollering and acting the fool, and get to the table and don't know who it is we're talking to—or what we're going to ask them—whether it's someone with real power or just a third-string flak catcher.”