/ flɪk; NAmE / verb , noun
■ verb
1.
[ vn + adv. / prep. ] to hit sth with a sudden quick movement, especially using your finger and thumb together, or your hand :
She flicked the dust off her collar.
The horse was flicking flies away with its tail.
James flicked a peanut at her.
Please don't flick ash on the carpet!
2.
to move or make sth move with sudden quick movements :
[ v + adv. / prep. ]
The snake's tongue flicked out.
Her eyes flicked from face to face.
[ vn , usually + adv. / prep. ]
He lifted his head, flicking his hair off his face.
The horse moved off, flicking its tail.
3.
flick a smile / look, etc. at sb | flick sb a smile / look, etc. to smile or look at sb suddenly and quickly :
[ vn , vnn ]
She flicked a nervous glance at him.
She flicked him a nervous glance.
4.
[ vn ] flick sth (on / off) to press a button or switch quickly in order to turn a machine, etc. on or off
SYN flip :
He flicked a switch and all the lights went out.
She flicked the TV on.
5.
[ vn ] flick A (with B) | flick B (at A) to move sth up and down with a sudden movement so that the end of it hits sth :
He flicked me with a wet towel.
He flicked a wet towel at me.
to flick a whip
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PHRASAL VERBS
- flick through sth
■ noun
1.
[ C , usually sing. ] a small sudden, quick movement or hit, for example with a whip or part of the body :
Bell's flick into the penalty area helped to create the goal.
All this information is available at the flick of a switch (= by simply turning on a machine) .
He threw the ball back with a quick flick of the wrist .
2.
[ sing. ] a ~ through sth a quick look through the pages of a book, magazine, etc.
SYN flip :
I had a flick through the catalogue while I was waiting.
3.
[ C ] ( old-fashioned , informal ) a film / movie
4.
the flicks [ pl. ] ( old-fashioned , BrE , informal ) a cinema
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WORD ORIGIN
late Middle English : symbolic, fl- frequently beginning words denoting sudden movement.