flick1 verbflick2 noun
flickflick1 /flɪk/ ●○○ verb 
WORD ORIGINflick1
Origin:
1400-1500 From the sound of a light blowVERB TABLE
flick
| Simple Form | ||
| Present | I, you, we, they | flick |
| he, she, it | flicks | |
| Past | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | flicked |
| Present perfect | I, you, we, they | have flicked |
| he, she, it | has flicked | |
| Past perfect | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | had flicked |
| Future | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | will flick |
| Future perfect | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | will have flicked |
| Continuous Form | ||
| Present | I | am flicking |
| he, she, it | is flicking | |
| you, we, they | are flicking | |
| Past | I, he, she, it | was flicking |
| you, we, they | were flicking | |
| Present perfect | I, you, we, they | have been flicking |
| he, she, it | has been flicking | |
| Past perfect | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | had been flicking |
| Future | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | will be flicking |
| Future perfect | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | will have been flicking |
EXAMPLES FROM OTHER DICTIONARIES
- He paused and flicked a mosquito off his arm.
- Ricky, stop flicking that towel at me!
- Stop flicking water at me!
- Chino calls to the man in khaki, who flicks his cigarette on to the lawn behind him, and approaches the car.
- He flicked away another cigarette as they made their way towards him to continue the drive still higher into the hills.
- He must have watched his digital watch flick away each precious minute and second.
- I walked to the front door, checked my watch, and flicked the porch light on and off three times.
- Jed's eyes flicked round the lounge.
- On the drive back to Goslar he flicked over the key he had taken from Bruno Morenz.
- The behaviour of worm-lions, which also flick sand at their prey, is essentially the same as that of the ant-lion.
- Then, he flicked a switch and stood well back.
Longman Language Activatorto throw something small and light with your fingers
· Mum tried to toss the pancake but unfortunately it missed the pan and hit the floor.toss/flip something into/over etc something · Josh took a mint and flipped it into his mouth like a dime.toss/flip a coin (=make a coin go upwards and spin in the air, for example as a way of deciding something) · We couldn't decide which movie to go to, so in the end we just flipped a coin.
to make something small and light go forward through the air with a quick movement of your thumb and finger: flick something off/into/over etc something: · He paused and flicked a mosquito off his arm.flick something at somebody (=in order to try and hit someone): · Stop flicking water at me!
COLLOCATIONS FROM THE ENTRY
I felt inside the doorway and flicked the light switch.COLLOCATIONS FROM OTHER ENTRIES
I felt inside the doorway and flicked the light switch. (=turn them quickly)· She was flicking through the pages of a magazine.
(=move it so something starts or stops)· You start the fan by just flipping this switch.
(=very quickly and easily, with a switch)· The advantages of having electricity available at the flick of a switch are obvious.
COLLOCATIONS FROM THE CORPUSADVERB· Greg flicked back to the contents list.· Rex flicked back to the appropriate page and read aloud.· She flicked back the long, dark, silky strands of her hair and sat cross-legged on the bed.· When the six-digit combination showed, he flicked back the locks and opened the lid.· I usually flick back to see whats on next - but forgot.· He gazed upwards until a lace curtain flicked back and he realised an elderly woman with white hair was studying him suspiciously.· She flicked back her long blond hair, which now looks, unluckily, like long white hair.· He regarded the men beneath him impassively, his eyes flicking back and forth as they looked up at him.
· Sliding between the bedcovers, she flicked off the bedside lamp and snuggled down into the enveloping warmth.· He nodded, moving to the stereo, which he flicked off.· The end of her cigarette glowed and the lighter flicked off.· Just as I flicked off the lock, Bunny must have pulled from the outside.
· On the drive back to Goslar he flicked over the key he had taken from Bruno Morenz.· Nathan's gaze flicked over sails, lines, winches and compass, in a swift visual check.· Now she reached the main doors and walked in, eyes flicking over the sea of faces in search of Mahoney.· All the ancestors flicked over with a bunch of pink feathers on a stick.· As his tongue flicked over her thighs she groaned out loud.· Dudek flicked over the pages, found them to be a little better, but still somewhat hum-drum.· They look like any other novel if you just flick over the pages and they are divided into chapters.· A red-nailed hand flicked over the words as he nodded.
· While I flick through to the centre pages, the businessman puts his hands in his pockets and waits.· She flicked through swiftly, hunting for a comb at the same time.· Simply flick through, check the index on the side of each page, and select from the bold category headings.
NOUN· He flicked the ash towards the fireplace with the back of his hand.· He flicks his ashes without reflection on the ground.· He watched her sit up and flick the ash on to the floor.· He flicks the ash off his faded blue jeans and lights up another cigarette.· They flicked ash from their cigarettes into the empty wine-glasses and shouted each other down in vain attempts to be witty.
· The Brandywell debutant surged towards the United penalty area before flicking the ball to the overlapping Mark Ennis on the right.· Calmly, he waited for Garcia to inch forward and flicked the ball over him for the lead.· He used to practise heading, flicking the ball from wall to wall, as he sat there, a constipated schoolboy.· Bobby Skinstad suggested that as Mark tackled me I flick the ball across to him to score a try.
· He flicked away another cigarette as they made their way towards him to continue the drive still higher into the hills.· Chino calls to the man in khaki, who flicks his cigarette on to the lawn behind him, and approaches the car.· Maltravers turned to flick his cigarette end on to the roadside.
· Cranston turned and flicked his fingers at the urchin.
· If he attempts to talk to you, you will flick him a haughty glance and say nothing.· She flicked a glance at her watch.
· And Goldberg, pursing his lips in concentration, flicking the hair out of his eyes, typed furiously on.· It also felt strange when each time I went to flick my hair I found there was nothing there to flick.· Lee Ann, 23 says the secret is her banter, coy looks and flicking her hair about.· All in all, she thought, flicking her hair back from her face, he was quite an unusual person.
· A red-nailed hand flicked over the words as he nodded.· He reached across to the bank of switches at his right hand and flicked a couple.
· He made sure I knew it was him by flicking on his interior light and waving me towards him.· Gold chrysanthemums spilled from ceramic pots; lilacs and cherry blossoms flicked clusters of light into our garden.· Then he opened the front door so that they could see where they were going, and flicked the bathroom light off.· I walked to the front door, checked my watch, and flicked the porch light on and off three times.· I unlocked the several locks on my door, went in, flicked on the lights.· I drew the drapes shut before flicking a light on.· I flick on the light to obliterate him.
· He flicked through the pages of his appointments diary, which were as ever blank.· During debates on gravel extraction he could be seen flicking through its pages.· Dougal flicked through the pages, dipping into the typed sections; the handwritten portions could wait.· As I flicked through the pages one Friday evening an advertisement caught my eye.· He placed the sketch-pad on his knees, flicked open the first page and began to draw.· He drew out the phrase book and flicked through the pages.· Dudek flicked over the pages, found them to be a little better, but still somewhat hum-drum.· Pick up something to read and look at it carefully, not frantically flicking through the pages.
· Amy flicked switches and her enormous kitchen sprang into life.· I flicked the switch back again, to undo whatever! might have done.· I kept thinking about the cockroaches, every now and then flicking on the switch to see if they were there.· Then, he flicked a switch and stood well back.· Manolo flicked a switch and brought up the other figure. 0012.· I went over and tapped on the door, then flicked the switch alongside it.· Chapter Twenty one Urquhart flicked the main switch and she blinked as the room was washed by the harsh overhead light.· Jim walked over to the overhead, placed a transparency on it, and flicked on the lamp switch.
· As his tongue flicked over her thighs she groaned out loud.· His narrow tongue flicked once across each dry lip.· His tongue flicked nervously across dry lips as he prepared to open the lid.· She curled her tongue and flicked it at his flesh with butterfly strokes.
· He flicked his wrist and sent it cracking high over Luke's prostrate body.· Luke took a few steps forward, then flicking his wrist, sent the lash out at waist-level.
PHRASES FROM THE ENTRY
1[transitive usually + adverb/preposition] to make something move away by hitting or pushing it suddenly or quickly, especially with your thumb and finger: - Baptiste flicked a look at Léonie.
- She flicked a glance at her watch.
Papa flicked the ash from his cigar.2[intransitive, transitive always + adverb/preposition] to move with a sudden quick movement, or to make something move in this wayflick from/up/down The cow’s tail flicked from side to side.flick something up/down etc Jackie flicked her long hair back.3[transitive] to move a switch so that a machine or piece of electrical equipment starts or stops SYN flip: I felt inside the doorway and flicked the light switch.flick something on/off Sandra flicked the TV on.4flick a glance/look at somebody/something British English to look very quickly at someone or something: Leith flicked a glance at her watch.5[transitive] if you flick something such as a towel or rope, you move it so that the end moves quickly away from you: The old man flicked his whip and the horses moved off.flick through something phrasal verb to look at a book, magazine, set of photographs etc quickly: Will flicked through Carla’s photo album.flick1 verbflick2 noun
flickflick2 noun WORD ORIGINflick2
Origin:
1-2, 5 1400-1500 ➔ FLICK13-4 1900-2000 ➔ FLICKER1; because of the appearance of early movies. EXAMPLES FROM OTHER DICTIONARIES
- With a flick of the wrist, Ferguson sent the ball into the opposite court.
- And it was Charlie who set up the winner with a headed flick on for McNally to score from eight yards out.
- Certain types of knives that have no legitimate use - such as flick, gravity and butterfly knives - are banned.
- He had that extra flick of race about him.
- His flick helped create the goal.
- The flick of the gold lighter kept on the coffee table was sharp as an electric shock in a room of steel.
- These days about 15 percent of our energy is obtained at the flick of a switch.
THESAURUS
especially British English, movie especially American English a series of images that tell a story and are shown in a cinema or on television: · What’s your favourite movie?· It won the award for best foreign film.· a made-for-TV movie
formal (also picture) a film – used especially by people who make films or by critics: · a major Hollywood motion picture· Tell us about your latest picture.
informal a very successful film: · Steven Spielberg’s latest Hollywood blockbuster
informal a film – a very informal use: · an action flick
a film that gives detailed information and facts about a particular subject: · a documentary on the rain forest
a film made to be shown in cinemas: · The book was later made into a full-length feature film starring Sean Penn.
a film intended to make people laugh: · Monroe appeared in a number of comedies.
(also romcom British English informal) a film about two people who are in love, which is intended to make the people who watch it feel happy: · ‘Notting Hill’ is a romantic comedy starring Julia Roberts and Hugh Grant.
an exciting film, especially about murder or serious crimes: · ‘The Birds’ is a classic Hitchcock thriller.
a film that shows strong feelings of fear or evil and whose characters are often immoral, or these films in general: · ‘The Big Sleep’ is a classic Hollywood film noir.
a film that has lots of fighting, explosions etc: · Stallone’s latest action movie
a frightening film about ghosts, murders etc: · She loves watching old horror movies.
a film with cowboys in it: · John Wayne is famous for making westerns.
(also sci-fi film/movie informal) a film about imaginary events in the future or in outer space: · ‘2001: A Space Odyssey’ is probably the most famous sci-fi movie ever made.
a film about violent criminals
an old film without any sound: · The 1920s were the golden age of silent movies.
a film made by a small film company
a film with characters that are drawn or made using a computer: · One of his first animated films was ‘Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs’.
a type of Japanese animated film, which often has a science fiction story: · Miyazaki’s anime film ‘Spirited Away’ became an international success.· an anime character
the use of computers to create characters and images in a film: · The film uses CGI.· Disney’s latest CGI movie
a short film, usually shown before a longer movie in the cinema: · an animated short
a series of short scenes from a film or programme, shown in order to advertise it in a cinema, on television etc: · We had to sit through all the trailers.
WORD SETSanimation, nounanimator, nounart director, nounart house, nounarts cinema, nounbiopic, nounblue movie, nounB-movie, nouncameo, nouncameraman, nouncartoon, nouncine-, adjectivecine-camera, nouncine-film, nouncinema, nouncinematic, adjectivecinematography, nounclip, nouncontinuity, nouncut, nouncutting room, noundirection, noundouble, noundouble bill, noundouble feature, nounepilogue, nounextra, nounfantasy, nounfarce, nounfeature, nounfeature film, nounfilm star, nounfilmstrip, nounflashback, nounflick, nounfootage, nounfreeze-frame, noungaffer, nounHollywood, home movie, nounhorror movie, nounimage, nounimagery, nounlip-synch, verblocation, nounlot, nounmatinée, nounmiscast, verbmotion picture, nounmovie, nounmoviegoer, nounmovie star, nounmovie theater, nounmoving picture, nounmultiplex, nounmusical, nounnarrator, nounnewsreel, nounoff-screen, adverbopening night, nounOscar, nounout-take, nounPG, nounpremiere, nounproject, verbprojection, nounprojectionist, nounprojector, nounprop, nounrating, nounreel, nounrelease, verbremake, nounremake, verbre-release, verbrerun, nounretake, nounrole, nounscreen, nounscreen, verbscreening, nounscreenplay, nounscreen test, nounscreenwriter, nounscriptwriter, nounset, nounshort, nounshot, nounshow, verbsilent, adjectiveslow motion, nounsoundtrack, nounspaghetti western, nounsplicer, nounsplit screen, nounstand-in, nounstill, nounstudio, nounstunt man, nounstunt woman, nountalkie, nountearjerker, nounTechnicolor, nountheatre, nountheme, noun3-D, adjectivetop-grossing, adjectivetrailer, nountravelogue, nounturkey, nounwestern, nounwhodunit, nounX, nounX-certificate, adjectiveX-rated, adjective
COLLOCATIONS FROM THE ENTRY With a flick of the wrist, Frye sent the ball into the opposite court. I can shut off all the power in the building at the flick of a switch.COLLOCATIONS FROM OTHER ENTRIES
With a flick of the wrist, Frye sent the ball into the opposite court. I can shut off all the power in the building at the flick of a switch. (=turn them quickly)· She was flicking through the pages of a magazine.
(=move it so something starts or stops)· You start the fan by just flipping this switch.
(=very quickly and easily, with a switch)· The advantages of having electricity available at the flick of a switch are obvious.
PHRASES FROM THE ENTRY► the flicks
1[countable] a short quick sudden movement or hit with a part of your body, whip etc: - A flick of a switch and the flashing blue lights and two-tone horns shatter the relative peace of the night.
- The flick of a switch can change all this if you install garden lights.
- These days about 15 percent of our energy is obtained at the flick of a switch.
- Go on, have a flick through.
- Marie's left a load of mags behind, so I pick one up and have a flick through it.
- Sometimes I'd have a flick through.
With a flick of the wrist, Frye sent the ball into the opposite court.2the flick of a switch used to emphasize how easy it is to start a machine and use it: I can shut off all the power in the building at the flick of a switch.3[countable usually singular] especially American English a film: an action flick4the flicks British English old-fashioned the cinema5have a flick through something British English to look at a book, magazine, set of pictures etc very quickly: I had a quick flick through your report.