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to flick

to flick

9 2.8
To look quickly through the pages of a book or magazine
  • verb
  • /flɪk/
  • UK
translation icon : hojear
  • You can flip through, flicking back and forth, reading in different areas.

I'm flicking through faster than a single person on Tinder in the run up to Valentine's Day.

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Examples

  • The student flicked through the pages of the textbook to find the answer.

  • Terri opens up the folder and begins to pace the floor as she flicks through the contents.

    Fiction book (1992)
  • I love just sitting down and flicking through and seeing what's on.

  • Flicking through the same three apps on my phone until it was time to sleep.

  • He has such a huge volume of work that it was exhausting trying to flick through all of them.

  • ANGLE OVER JOEY'S SHOULDER ON FOLDER - as she flicks through the contents.

    Fiction book (1992)
  • She flicked through the latest issue of the magazine while waiting for her appointment.

  • He likes to flick through recipe books to find inspiration for dinner.

Synonyms

to flip
vsto flick
354 1.8

To turn or toss something quickly with a light hand movement

is narrower, focusing on quick page turning to glance through text
to leaf
vsto flick
17 6.5

To turn pages quickly without reading everything

is more about a light, rapid leafing motion to view pages
to thumb
vsto flick
12 5.8

To turn the pages of a book quickly while only looking a little

is similar but stresses a lighter, flicking finger motion over speed
to page
vsto flick
6 2.7

To look through a book or magazine quickly

is quicker and lighter, focused on a rapid visual scan
to riffle
vsto flick
2 6.5

To turn pages quickly or move thin things with a light quick motion

is the same quick movement but emphasizes looking as pages turn
to skim
vsto flick
1 2.7

Read something quickly without looking at details

involves mainly the physical quick turning of pages rather than general reading
to rattle through
vsto flick
  • Informal
1 6.3

Do something quickly without stopping

is about quick page turning specifically, not general rushed completion

Antonyms

1.0

To look at something carefully to understand it

32 7.0

To read something slowly and carefully to understand it

Compounds

chick flick
  • Informal
9 6.2

A light romantic movie that many women enjoy

skin flick
  • Offensive
2 9.7

A movie that shows sexual acts for adults

8.1

A small folding knife whose blade opens quickly when you press a button

8.1

A small folding knife with a blade that opens quickly when you press a button

How Thorough

read
176 2.8
to skim
1 2.7
to flick
  • UK
9 2.8
to glance
299 1.5

Surface Forms

flick infinitive
flicked past
flicked past participle
flicking present participle
flicks third person singular

Etymology

To flick through pages uses the same idea of a quick, light touch: you move your fingers fast over the pages to look quickly. So flick in this case means to turn or look through something rapidly.