What does flick mean?
Flick is both verb and noun describing a light, sudden, and precise movement: the quick snap of a finger, wrist, or whip that sends an object flying, removes dust from a surface, or switches on a light. The word conveys ease and economy — someone who flicks a crumb away or flicks through a magazine acts briskly, without effort or deliberation. In sports, a flick names a deft glancing stroke, as in cricket or hockey. Informally, a flick is a movie, a slang sense born of the flickering images of early cinema and kept alive in phrases like 'chick flick'. The word's imagery of speed and lightness makes it vivid and useful: it compresses an entire gesture into a single syllable, capturing motion so brief it is almost over before it begins.
To strike or move something with a sudden, light, quick stroke, especially with a finger, thumb, or whip.
"She flicked the fly off her arm with a single motion."
Often followed by an adverbial particle, as in 'flick off', 'flick through', or 'flick aside'.
To propel an object with a quick snapping movement of a finger or wrist.
"He flicked a coin across the table toward his brother."
To turn over or scan quickly, as in flicking through the pages of a book or magazine.
"She flicked through the brochure while waiting."
A light, quick, sharp blow or jerking movement.
"With a flick of the reins, the rider urged the horse forward."
Standard plural; used chiefly for movies ('two flicks') or repeated light blows.
"The archive holds hundreds of old flicks from the silent era."
"Chick flick" — the phrase that turned a simple word for a light snap into shorthand for an entire genre of film.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of flick
The verb flick first appears in English in the early seventeenth century, though its ultimate origin is uncertain; it is likely imitative in character, echoing other light-strike words like flicker and fleck, which appear around the same period. Some dictionaries treat it as probably related to or a variant of these words, all suggesting quick, slight movement or impact. The noun sense meaning 'movie' arose in American English in the early twentieth century, inspired by the flicker of film projectors.
Related word forms
How flick is actually used
Flick is informal to neutral in register; it appears constantly in everyday speech but rarely in formal writing except in sports commentary (cricket's leg-side flick, football's flick-on). The noun use meaning 'movie' is casual slang and should be avoided in formal contexts.
Easily confused with flick
A click is a short sharp mechanical sound (or a press of a button), whereas a flick is a light, swift striking movement that may produce a sound.
A flip turns something over entirely, while a flick gives only a small, quick impulse without full rotation.