flick
flihk
Flick (noun) means a quick, light movement, often with the fingers or wrist. Example: “With a flick of her wrist, she sent the card sailing across the table.”
noun
1
A quick, light movement, often with the fingers or wrist.
"With a flick of her wrist, she sent the card sailing across the table."
"He dismissed the idea with a flick of his hand."
"A quick flick of its tail sent the fish darting away."
2
A movie (informal).
"We watched an old horror flick on Friday night."
"Let's rent a funny flick and order a pizza tonight."
"That sci-fi flick was far too long, but the ending was good."
verb
1
To move or hit something with a short, quick motion.
"He flicked the switch and the lights came on."
"She flicked a crumb off the table."
How to use flick
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA short, snappy movement (flick of the wrist), or casual slang for a movie.
When to use it
"Flick" meaning "movie" is informal.
Common pairings
flick of the wrist
horror flick
flick a switch
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Word forms
- Plural
- flicks
- Third person singular
- flicks
- Past tense
- flicked
Fill the gap
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With a _____ of her wrist, she sent the card sailing across the table.
Etymology
From Middle English flykke, describing a light quick blow. The film sense comes from early movies visibly flickering due to low frame rates.
Related words
Rhymes for flick
See all rhymes for flick →Frequently asked questions
What does “flick” mean?
The word “flick” means a quick, light movement, often with the fingers or wrist. In plain terms, a short, snappy movement (flick of the wrist), or casual slang for a movie.
How do you pronounce “flick”?
“Flick” is pronounced flihk (/flɪk/ in IPA).
How do you use “flick” in a sentence?
Here is “flick” used in a sentence: “With a flick of her wrist, she sent the card sailing across the table.”
What part of speech is “flick”?
Depending on how it is used, “flick” can be a noun and a verb.
Where does the word “flick” come from?
The word “flick” comes from Middle English. From Middle English flykke, describing a light quick blow. The film sense comes from early movies visibly flickering due to low frame rates.
Is “flick” a common word?
“Flick” is an uncommon word in modern English, usually learned at around the C1 level.
How many meanings does “flick” have?
“Flick” has 3 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a quick, light movement, often with the fingers or wrist.
What is the difference between "flick" and "flip"?
"Flick" describes a quick, light movement, often with the fingers or wrist, such as flicking a switch, while "flip" often implies turning something over or reversing it, such as flipping a coin or a page. Flick suggests speed and lightness; flip suggests rotation.
Why do people sometimes call a movie a "flick"?
"Flick" is informal slang for a movie, likely tracing back to the flickering appearance of early film projections. It's casual usage, as in "let's watch a flick tonight," and would not be used in formal writing.
Is "flick" formal or informal English?
"Flick" is informal in both its sense of a quick movement, used casually in everyday speech, and especially in its slang meaning of a movie, which is chiefly colloquial. Formal writing would use "movie" or "film" instead.
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