# flick

/ˈfɫɪk/ (US) · /flˈɪk/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/flick
Updated: 2026-06-20

## Senses

### 1. to move quickly

verb · CEFR B1

to move something with a short, quick motion, often using your fingers or wrist.

For teachers: to propel or move something with a sudden, light stroke or impulse, typically involving the fingers or a flexible object.

- He had to flick the switch several times before the light finally came on.
- She absentmindedly flicked a speck of dust off her sleeve while waiting for the interview to begin.

Usage: Often used with 'at' or 'off'.

### 2. to look through quickly

verb · CEFR B2

to look through a book, magazine, or website very fast without reading everything.

For teachers: to turn pages or navigate digital content rapidly and cursorily.

- I like to flick through a magazine while I wait for my hair appointment.
- He spent the afternoon flicking through old photo albums, searching for a specific picture of his grandfather.

Usage: Usually followed by the preposition 'through'.

### 3. a quick motion

noun · CEFR B1

a sudden, light movement.

For teachers: a light, rapid movement or stroke, often executed with the wrist or a finger.

- With a quick flick of her wrist, she threw the ball to the dog.
- The horse gave a sharp flick of its tail to drive away the persistent flies.

### 4. a movie

noun · CEFR B1 · Informal

an informal word for a movie or film.

For teachers: a motion picture. Often used in the plural with 'the' to refer to the cinema as an institution or destination.

- Do you want to go see a flick at the mall tonight?
- The critics dismissed the blockbuster as a mindless action flick, despite its record-breaking performance at the box office.

Teaching tip: While 'flick' is common in casual speech, 'movie' or 'film' is preferred in any professional or academic context.

## Examples

- Do you want to go see a flick tonight?
- We stayed in on Friday night and watched an old black-and-white flick on television.
- While the director's early work consisted of low-budget horror flicks, his later projects earned significant critical acclaim at international festivals.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.