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Glite Dictionary
to click open

to click open

1 3.1
Open something so it makes a small sharp sound
  • phrasal verb
  • /klɪk ˈoʊpən/
translation icon : hacer clic para abrir
  • "In!" my keeper ordered as a green light flickered and the door clicked open.
  • the door clicked open
  • the lock clicked open

Examples

  • I look down for one last time, click open the latch, and push open the door.

    Fiction book (1993)

  • On the third try, it clicked open.

    Fiction book (1993)

  • As she turned the key, the lock clicked open, allowing her to enter the room.

  • With a gentle push, the door clicked open, revealing the hidden corridor.

  • After entering the code, the safe clicked open, and I reached inside.

Synonyms

to click
vsto click open
92 1.0

Make a short sharp sound like a small tap

occurs when the short sharp sound happens as a lid or latch is released

How Noisy

to snap
88 1.6
pop
3.1
to click open
1 3.1
to open
∞ 1.0

Surface Forms

click open infinitive
clicked open past
clicked open past participle
clicking open present participle
clicks open third person singular

Morphology

click + open

The meaning 'to open something so that it makes a clicking sound' is directly and transparently composed from 'click' (produce a short sharp sound) and 'open' (make accessible). A B1 learner who knows both words can readily infer this sense (including the common UI sense 'click to open'), so the expression is immediately comprehensible from its parts.

Etymology

The verb click open comes from a simple image: a small metal catch or lock makes a sharp click when it moves and lets a box or case open. So, click open means 'to open something so that it makes a clicking sound'.