noun
- a sudden light blow or tap, as with a whip or the finger: She gave the horse a flick with her riding crop.
- the sound made by such a blow or tap.
- a light and rapid movement: a flick of the wrist.
- something thrown off with or as if with a jerk: a flick of mud.
verb (used with object)
- to strike lightly with a whip, the finger, etc.
- to remove with such a stroke: to flick away a crumb.
- to move (something) with a sudden stroke or jerk.
verb (used without object)
- to move with a jerk or jerks.
- to flutter.
verb
- (tr) to touch with or as if with the finger or hand in a quick jerky movement
- (tr) to propel or remove by a quick jerky movement, usually of the fingers or handto flick a piece of paper at someone
- to move or cause to move quickly or jerkily
- (intr foll by through) to read or look at (a book, newspaper, etc) quickly or idly
- to snap or click (the fingers) to produce a sharp sound
noun
- a tap or quick stroke with the fingers, a whip, etc
- the sound made by such a stroke
- a fleck, streak, or particle
- give someone the flick informal to dismiss someone from consideration
noun slang
- a cinema film
- the flicks the cinemawhat’s on at the flicks tonight?
1816, from flick (n.); meaning “quick turn of the wrist” is from 1897, originally in cricket. Related: Flicked; flicking.
mid-15c., probably imitative of a light blow with a whip. Earliest recorded use is in phrase not worth a flykke “useless.” As slang for “film,” it is first attested 1926, a back-formation from flicker (v.), from their flickering appearance.