From Longman Dictionary of Contemporary Englishldoce_108_aflickflick1 /flɪk/ ●○○ verb 1 [transitive usually + adverb/preposition]THROW to make something move away by hitting or pushing it suddenly or quickly, especially with your thumb and finger Papa flicked the ash from his cigar.2 [intransitive, transitive always + adverb/preposition]SHAKE 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]SWITCH ON OR OFF 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.4 → flick a glance/look at somebody/something5 [transitive]SHAKE 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→ See Verb table
Examples from the Corpus
flick• He paused and flicked a mosquito off his arm.• Then, he flicked a switch and stood well back.• 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.• Chino calls to the man in khaki, who flicks his cigarette on to the lawn behind him, and approaches the car.• On the drive back to Goslar he flicked over the key he had taken from Bruno Morenz.• Jed's eyes flicked round the lounge.• The behaviour of worm-lions, which also flick sand at their prey, is essentially the same as that of the ant-lion.• Ricky, stop flicking that towel at me!• I walked to the front door, checked my watch, and flicked the porch light on and off three times.• Stop flicking water at me!flick from/up/down• The door opened and the valance flicked up.• My hood flicks up, and pins itself against my face.• She allowed her gaze to flick up every time the hand passed the twelve.• Now he turned, his eyes flicking from place to place in Francis's apartment.• At the junction, I paused, eyes flicking from side to side, trying to spot Kevin's contact.• She then flicked down the lid and Adam locked it again with his key.• We went in, Connors flicking down the light switch.• She saw his glance flick down to her mouth, then abruptly he was turning away.flick something on/off• As I drove away, I flicked on the radio.flickflick2 noun 1 [countable]SHAKE a short quick sudden movement or hit with a part of your body, whip etc With a flick of the wrist, Frye sent the ball into the opposite court.2 → the flick of a switch3 [countable usually singular] especially American EnglishAMF a film an action flick4 → the flicks5 → have a flick through somethingExamples from the Corpus
flick• With a flick of the wrist, Ferguson sent the ball into the opposite court.• 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.• And it was Charlie who set up the winner with a headed flick on for McNally to score from eight yards out.• His flick helped create the goal.• These days about 15 percent of our energy is obtained at the flick of a switch.• The flick of the gold lighter kept on the coffee table was sharp as an electric shock in a room of steel.Origin flick1 (1400-1500) From the sound of a light blow flick2 1. (1400-1500) → FLICK12. (1900-2000) → FLICKER1; because of the appearance of early movies. 