Blush vs. Flush — What's the Difference?
By Fiza Rafique & Urooj Arif — Updated on March 21, 2024
Blush involves a mild reddening typically due to shyness or embarrassment, while flush is a deeper redness often related to emotion, heat, or health conditions.
Difference Between Blush and Flush
Table of Contents
ADVERTISEMENT
Key Differences
Blushing is a subtle reddening of the face commonly triggered by emotions such as embarrassment or shyness. This physiological response is involuntary and reflects modest psychological stimuli. On the other hand, flushing can result from a broader range of emotions, including anger or attraction, and can also be induced by physical factors such as hot weather or physical exertion, indicating a more intense or systemic reaction.
Blush primarily affects the cheeks and is usually brief, highlighting the body's delicate response to social or personal discomfort. Whereas, flushing can spread more widely across the face and even to other parts of the body, lasting longer and often accompanied by a sensation of warmth, demonstrating a stronger physiological change.
The cause of blushing is often psychological, tied to the individual's feelings of self-awareness or judgment in social interactions. In contrast, flushing might not only be psychological but can also be caused by medical conditions (like rosacea or menopause), dietary factors (such as alcohol consumption), or medications, indicating a broader range of triggers.
Blush is generally considered a normal and harmless reaction, sometimes even perceived as a sign of virtuousness or attractiveness. However, flush, especially when frequent or severe, may signal underlying health issues or a need for medical attention, underscoring the importance of understanding its causes.
While both blush and flush are mechanisms of the body to regulate emotions and reactions, they play different roles in social communication. Blushing might signal vulnerability or humility, enhancing social bonding, whereas flushing could indicate a more intense emotional state or physical condition, affecting social interaction differently.
ADVERTISEMENT
Comparison Chart
Primary Trigger
Emotions (e.g., embarrassment)
Emotions, Heat, Physical exertion, Health conditions
Duration
Short-term
Can be longer-lasting
Affected Areas
Mainly cheeks
Face, can extend to neck and other body parts
Psychological Association
Shyness, embarrassment
Broader emotional range, health issues
Social Perception
Often positive (e.g., attractiveness)
Varied, can indicate health concerns
Compare with Definitions
Blush
A temporary reddening of the face due to embarrassment.
She felt a blush spread across her cheeks when she realized everyone was looking at her.
Flush
A sudden reddening of the face or skin.
A flush spread over his face when he stepped out into the scorching heat.
Blush
Display or feel embarrassment or shame.
She blushed at the mistake she had made in front of her colleagues.
Flush
Feeling a warm or hot sensation.
She felt a flush of fever as the infection took hold.
Blush
A cosmetic powder or cream used to color the cheeks.
She applied a light pink blush to add a natural-looking glow.
Flush
A period of excitement or activity.
The company experienced a flush of orders after the product launch.
Blush
A faint or fleeting appearance of something.
The sky had a blush of orange at dawn.
Flush
To cause to be full or to swell.
The rain flushed the gutters, causing overflow.
Blush
To become red in the face, particularly from modesty, embarrassment, or shame.
He blushed when his crush complimented him.
Flush
To clean, rinse, or empty with a rapid flow of a liquid, especially water.
He flushed the engine with water to remove debris.
Blush
Show shyness, embarrassment, or shame by becoming red in the face
Kate felt herself blushing scarlet
She blushed at the unexpected compliment
Flush
(of a person's skin, face, etc.) become red and hot, typically as the result of illness or strong emotion
Rachel flushed angrily
Blush
Be or become pink or pale red
The trees are loaded with blushing blossoms
Flush
Cleanse (something, especially a toilet) by causing large quantities of water to pass through it
The nurse flushed out the catheter
She flushed the loo
Blush
A reddening of the face as a sign of shyness, embarrassment, or shame
He had brought a faint blush to her cheeks
Flush
Drive (a bird, especially a game bird, or an animal) from its cover
The grouse were flushed from the woods
Blush
A pink or pale red tinge
The roses were white with a lovely pink blush
Flush
(of a plant) send out fresh shoots
The plant had started to flush by late March
Blush
A wine with a slight pink tint made in the manner of white wine but from red grape varieties
Blush Zinfandel
Flush
Fill in (a joint) level with a surface.
Blush
Another term for blusher (sense 1)
Flush
A reddening of the face, skin, etc., typically caused by illness or strong emotion
A flush of embarrassment rose to her cheeks
Blush
To become red in the face, especially from modesty, embarrassment, or shame; flush.
Flush
A sudden rush of intense emotion
I was carried away in a flush of enthusiasm
Blush
To become red or rosy.
Flush
An act of cleansing something, especially a toilet, with a sudden flow of water
An old-fashioned toilet uses six or seven gallons a flush
Blush
To feel embarrassed or ashamed
Blushed at his own audacity.
Flush
The action of driving an animal or game bird from its cover
Labradors retrieve the birds after the flush
Blush
A reddening of the face, especially from modesty, embarrassment, or shame.
Flush
(in poker or brag) a hand of cards all of the same suit.
Blush
A red or rosy color
The blush of dawn.
Flush
A piece of wet ground over which water flows without being confined to a definite channel.
Blush
A glance, look, or view
Thought the painting genuine at first blush.
Flush
Completely level or even with another surface
The gates are flush with the adjoining fencing
Blush
Makeup used on the face and especially on the cheekbones to give a usually rosy tint. Also called blusher.
Flush
Having plenty of something, especially money
The banks are flush with funds
Blush
An act of blushing; a red glow on the face caused by shame, modesty, etc.
Flush
So as to be level or even
The screw must fit flush with the surface
Blush
A glow; a flush of colour, especially pink or red.
Flush
So as to be directly centred; squarely
Hodson caught him flush on the jaw with a straight right
Blush
(figuratively) Feeling or appearance of optimism.
Flush
To turn red, as from fever, embarrassment, or strong emotion; blush.
Blush
A sort of makeup, frequently a powder, used to redden the cheeks.
Flush
To glow, especially with a reddish color
The sky flushed pink at dawn.
Blush
A color between pink and cream.
Flush
To flow suddenly and abundantly, as from containment; flood.
Blush
A pale pink wine made by removing the dark grape skins at the required point during fermentation.
Flush
To be emptied or cleaned by a rapid flow of water, as a toilet.
Blush
The collective noun for a group of boys.
A blush of boys.
Flush
To cause to redden or glow.
Blush
(intransitive) To become red in the face (and sometimes experience an associated feeling of warmth), especially due to shyness, shame, excitement, or embarrassment.
The love scene made him blush to the roots of his hair / to the tips of his ears.
He wasn't used to this much attention, so he blushed as he saw dozens of pairs of eyes watching him.
Flush
To excite or elate
The team was flushed with the success of victory.
Blush
To be ashamed or embarrassed (to do something).
Flush
To clean, rinse, or empty with a rapid flow of a liquid, especially water
Flush a toilet.
Flush a wound with iodine.
Blush
(intransitive) To become red.
Flush
To drive away with a rapid flow of a liquid
Flush debris from a pipe.
Blush
(transitive) To suffuse with a blush; to redden; to make rosy.
Flush
To remove or eliminate
"The weakness in demand and productivity will at least ... flush out some of the inflation premium that has been built into interest rates" (Fortune).
Blush
(copulative) To change skin color in the face (to a particular shade).
When he saw it, he blushed a beet red.
I wasn't surprised, but it was embarrassing enough that I blushed a little pink.
Flush
To frighten (a game bird, for example) from cover.
Blush
(transitive) To express or make known by blushing.
Looking at me with a knowing glare, she blushed her discomfort with the situation.
Flush
To drive or force into the open
The police fired tear gas to flush out the terrorists.
Blush
(intransitive) To have a warm and delicate colour, like some roses and other flowers.
The garden was full of blossoms that blushed in myriad shades to form a beautiful carpet of color.
Flush
To dart out or fly from cover.
Blush
To glance with the eye, cast a glance.
Flush
A flooding flow or rush, as of water.
Blush
Of dope or varnish: to develop an undesirable white precipitate on the surface, due to being applied in humid conditions.
Flush
The act of cleaning or rinsing by or as if by flushing.
Blush
To become suffused with red in the cheeks, as from a sense of shame, modesty, or confusion; to become red from such cause, as the cheeks or face.
To the nuptial bowerI led her blushing like the morn.
In the presence of the shameless and unblushing, the young offender is ashamed to blush.
He would strokeThe head of modest and ingenuous worth,That blushed at its own praise.
Flush
A blush or glow
"here and there a flush of red on the lip of a little cloud" (Willa Cather).
Blush
To grow red; to have a red or rosy color.
The sun of heaven, methought, was loth to set,But stayed, and made the western welkin blush.
Flush
A reddening of the skin, as with fever, emotion, or exertion.
Blush
To have a warm and delicate color, as some roses and other flowers.
Full many a flower is born to blush unseen.
Flush
A brief sensation of heat over all or part of the body.
Blush
To suffuse with a blush; to redden; to make roseate.
To blush and beautify the cheek again.
Flush
A rush of strong feeling
A flush of pride.
Blush
To express or make known by blushing.
I'll blush you thanks.
Flush
A state of great vigor or development.
Blush
A suffusion of the cheeks or face with red, as from a sense of shame, confusion, or modesty.
The rosy blush of love.
Flush
A hand in which all the cards are of the same suit but not in numerical sequence, ranked above a straight and below a full house in poker.
Blush
A red or reddish color; a rosy tint.
Light's last blushes tinged the distant hills.
Flush
A bird or flock of birds that has been frightened from cover.
Blush
A rosy color (especially in the cheeks) taken as a sign of good health
Flush
So as to be even, in one plane, or aligned with a margin.
Blush
Sudden reddening of the face (as from embarrassment or guilt or shame or modesty)
Flush
Squarely or solidly
The ball hit him flush on the face.
Blush
Turn red, as if in embarrassment or shame;
The girl blushed when a young man whistled as she walked by
Flush
A group of birds that have suddenly started up from undergrowth, trees, etc.
Blush
Become rosy or reddish;
Her cheeks blushed in the cold winter air
Flush
A sudden flowing; a rush which fills or overflows, as of water for cleansing purposes.
Flush
Particularly, such a cleansing of a toilet.
Flush
(computing) The process of clearing the contents of a buffer or cache.
Flush
A sudden flood or rush of feeling; a thrill of excitement, animation, etc.
A flush of joy
Flush
(skiing) A line of poles or obstacles that a skier must weave between.
Flush
(poker) A hand consisting of all cards with the same suit.
Flush
(transitive) To cause to take flight from concealment.
The dogs flushed the deer from the woods.
Flush
(intransitive) To take suddenly to flight, especially from cover.
A covey of quail flushed from the undergrowth.
Flush
(transitive) To cleanse by flooding with generous quantities of a fluid.
Flush the injury with plenty of water.
Flush
(transitive) Particularly, to cleanse a toilet by introducing a large amount of water.
Flush
(intransitive) To become suffused with reddish color due to embarrassment, excitement, overheating, or other systemic disturbance, to blush.
The damsel flushed at the scoundrel's suggestion.
Flush
(transitive) To cause to blush.
Flush
To cause to be full; to flood; to overflow; to overwhelm with water.
To flush the meadows
Flush
(transitive) To excite, inflame.
Flush
To be cleansed by being flooded with generous quantities of water.
There must be somebody home: I just heard the toilet flushing.
Flush
To clear (a buffer or cache) of its contents.
Flush
To write (the data) to primary storage, clearing it from the buffer or cache.
Flush to disk
Flush
To show red; to shine suddenly; to glow.
Flush
(masonry) To fill in (joints); to point the level; to make them flush.
Flush
To operate a placer mine, where the continuous supply of water is insufficient, by holding back the water, and releasing it periodically in a flood.
Flush
(mining) To fill underground spaces, especially in coal mines, with material carried by water, which, after drainage, constitutes a compact mass.
Flush
To dispose or be disposed of by flushing down a toilet
Flush
Smooth, even, aligned; not sticking out.
Sand down the excess until it is flush with the surface.
Flush
Wealthy or well off.
He just got a bonus so he's flush today.
Flush
(typography) nodot=1: a body of text aligned with both its left and right margins.
Flush
Full of vigour; fresh; glowing; bright.
Flush
Affluent; abounding; well furnished or suppled; hence, liberal; prodigal.
Flush
Suddenly and completely.
I landed flush on the couch.
Flush
To become suddenly suffused, as the cheeks; to turn red; to blush.
Flush
To snow red; to shine suddenly; to glow.
In her cheek, distemper flushing glowed.
Flush
To start up suddenly; to take wing as a bird.
Flushing from one spray unto another.
Flush
To cause to be full; to flood; to overflow; to overwhelm with water; as, to flush the meadows; to flood for the purpose of cleaning; as, to flush a sewer.
Flush
To excite; to animate; to stir.
Such things as can only feed his pride and flush his ambition.
Flush
To cause to start, as a hunter a bird.
Flush
To cause to flow; to draw water from, or pour it over or through (a pond, meadow, sewer, etc.); to cleanse by means of a rush of water.
Flush
To operate a placer mine, where the continuous supply of water is insufficient, by holding back the water, and releasing it periodically in a flood.
Flush
A sudden flowing; a rush which fills or overflows, as of water for cleansing purposes.
In manner of a wave or flush.
Flush
A sudden flood or rush of feeling; a thrill of excitement. animation, etc.; as, a flush of joy.
Flush
A flock of birds suddenly started up or flushed.
Flush
A hand of cards, all of the same suit; - especially significant in poker, where five cards of the same suit constitute a flush, which beats a straight but is beaten by a full house or four of a kind.
Flush
Full of vigor; fresh; glowing; bright.
With all his crimes broad blown, as flush as May.
Flush
Affluent; abounding; well furnished or suppled; hence, liberal; prodigal.
Lord Strut was not very flush in ready.
Flush
Unbroken or even in surface; on a level with the adjacent surface; forming a continuous surface; as, a flush panel; a flush joint.
Flush
Consisting of cards of one suit.
Flush
So as to be level or even.
Flush
The period of greatest prosperity or productivity
Flush
A rosy color (especially in the cheeks) taken as a sign of good health
Flush
Sudden brief sensation of heat (associated with menopause and some mental disorders)
Flush
A poker hand with all 5 cards in the same suit
Flush
The swift release of a store of affective force;
They got a great bang out of it
What a boot!
He got a quick rush from injecting heroin
He does it for kicks
Flush
Sudden reddening of the face (as from embarrassment or guilt or shame or modesty)
Flush
Turn red, as if in embarrassment or shame;
The girl blushed when a young man whistled as she walked by
Flush
Flow freely;
The garbage flushed down the river
Flush
Make level or straight;
Level the ground
Flush
Polish and make shiny;
Buff the wooden floors
Buff my shoes
Flush
Rinse, clean, or empty with a liquid;
Flush the wound with antibiotics
Purge the old gas tank
Flush
Irrigate with water from a sluice;
Sluice the earth
Flush
Cause to flow or flood with or as if with water;
Flush the meadows
Flush
Of a surface exactly even with an adjoining one, forming the same plane;
A door flush with the wall
The bottom of the window is flush with the floor
Flush
Having an abundant supply of money or possessions of value;
An affluent banker
A speculator flush with cash
Not merely rich but loaded
Moneyed aristocrats
Wealthy corporations
Flush
Squarely or solidly;
Hit him flush in the face
Flush
In the same plane;
Set it flush with the top of the table
Common Curiosities
Can makeup cause flushing?
Certain makeup or skincare products can irritate the skin, leading to flushing in sensitive individuals.
What causes a person to blush?
Blushing is caused by emotional factors, primarily embarrassment or shyness.
Can blushing be controlled?
Blushing is an involuntary reaction and cannot be easily controlled.
What are common triggers for flushing?
Common triggers include intense emotions, heat, physical exertion, certain foods, and health conditions.
Is flushing always related to emotions?
No, flushing can also be caused by physical factors or health conditions.
Are there treatments for excessive blushing or flushing?
Treatment depends on the underlying cause but may include lifestyle changes, medications, or procedures for severe cases.
Can both men and women experience blush and flush equally?
Yes, both men and women can experience blush and flush, though individual responses and perceptions may vary.
How can I tell the difference between blush and flush?
Blush is usually milder and localized to the cheeks, while flush may be more intense and spread beyond the face.
Are there any health benefits to flushing?
While uncomfortable, flushing can indicate the body's effort to regulate temperature or respond to stress, but it's not typically seen as having health benefits.
Can stress cause flushing?
Yes, stress can trigger flushing as part of the body's response to emotional or physical stressors.
Is it normal to flush without any apparent reason?
Occasional flushing can be normal, but frequent or severe episodes should be evaluated by a healthcare provider.
How long does a typical flush last?
The duration of a flush can vary widely, depending on its cause and individual factors.
Is there a way to prevent blushing or flushing?
Preventing blushing or flushing involves managing triggers such as stress, heat, or certain foods, though not all triggers can be avoided.
Does blushing serve a purpose?
Blushing may have social functions, such as signaling embarrassment or humility, which can foster empathy or social bonding.
Can blushing be a sign of attraction?
Yes, blushing can be a reaction to attraction, signaling interest or emotional sensitivity.
Share Your Discovery
Previous Comparison
Mage vs. Wizard
Next Comparison
Donjon vs. KeepAuthor Spotlight
Written by
Fiza RafiqueFiza Rafique is a skilled content writer at AskDifference.com, where she meticulously refines and enhances written pieces. Drawing from her vast editorial expertise, Fiza ensures clarity, accuracy, and precision in every article. Passionate about language, she continually seeks to elevate the quality of content for readers worldwide.
Co-written by
Urooj ArifUrooj is a skilled content writer at Ask Difference, known for her exceptional ability to simplify complex topics into engaging and informative content. With a passion for research and a flair for clear, concise writing, she consistently delivers articles that resonate with our diverse audience.
