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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
: 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.