---
title: flick — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «flick» in the school dictionary: To hit or move something with a quick small movement, for example with a finger. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# flick

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** film, He, you, I, horse, she · **What happens:** hit, move, switch, flick, turn, change · **To what, where:** something, light switch, pages, TV channels, book, cinema

<!-- .vabout -->
«flick» in the school dictionary: its 5 meanings for a pupil and its 8 examples, every sentence parsed by Mova itself — its syntax tree, a dependency tree in the style of Universal Dependencies, and its pragmatics clause by clause. The word in the dictionary, with its sense in the lessons: [flick in the school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/flick.md).

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
To hit or move something with a quick small movement, for example with a finger.

<!-- fold The tree, 15 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:flick:m1:1
# text = To hit or move something with a quick small movement, for example with a finger.
1	To	to	PART	TO	_	2	mark	_	_
2	hit	hit	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	4	cc	_	_
4	move	move	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	2	conj	_	_
5	something	something	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	4	obj	_	_
6	with	with	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
7	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
8	quick	quick	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	10	amod	_	_
9	small	small	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	10	amod	_	_
10	movement	movement	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	13	punct	_	_
12	for	for	ADP	IN	_	13	case	_	_
13	example	example	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obl	_	_
14	with	with	ADP	IN	_	16	case	_	_
15	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	16	det	_	_
16	finger	finger	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
17	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **hit** | to-infinitive |  |  |  |  |  | for example; with a finger | vn hit-18.1-1 «NP V PP PP»: agent=Agent with finger=Instrument |
| 2 | **move** | infinitive |  | something |  |  |  | with a quick small movement | vn roll-51.3.1 «NP V NP.theme»: agent=Agent something=Theme |

<!-- .note -->
One row per clause the reader finds. «not said here»: a role filled from the clause above. «roles by»: a VerbNet class and frame when one fits the verb, else the reader's rules on the tree.

## Meaning 2 {#m2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
To switch something on or off quickly: «flick the light switch».

<!-- fold The tree, 11 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:flick:m2:1
# text = To switch something on or off quickly: «flick the light switch».
1	To	to	PART	TO	_	2	mark	_	_
2	switch	switch	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	something	something	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	2	obj	_	_
4	on	on	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
5	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	6	cc	_	_
6	off	off	ADV	RB	_	2	advmod	_	_
7	quickly	quickly	ADV	RB	_	6	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	:	:	PUNCT	:	_	10	punct	_	_
9	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	10	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	flick	flick	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	2	advcl	_	_
11	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	13	det	_	_
12	light	light	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	13	compound	_	_
13	switch	switch	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	10	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
15	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **switch** | to-infinitive |  | something |  |  |  | off *property* | vn convert-26.6.2-1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent something=Patient |
| 2 | **flick** *in a quote* | infinitive |  | the light switch |  |  |  |  | vn throw-17.1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent switch=Theme |

## Meaning 3 {#m3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
To turn pages quickly or change TV channels: «flick through a book».

<!-- fold The tree, 12 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:flick:m3:1
# text = To turn pages quickly or change TV channels: «flick through a book».
1	To	to	PART	TO	_	2	mark	_	_
2	turn	turn	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	pages	page	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	obj	_	_
4	quickly	quickly	ADV	RB	_	2	advmod	_	_
5	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	6	cc	_	_
6	change	change	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	2	conj	_	_
7	TV	TV	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	compound	_	_
8	channels	channel	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	6	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	:	:	PUNCT	:	_	11	punct	_	_
10	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	11	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	flick	flick	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	2	conj	_	_
12	through	through	ADP	IN	_	14	case	_	_
13	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	14	det	_	_
14	book	book	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	11	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
15	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	11	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
16	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **turn** | to-infinitive |  | pages |  |  |  | quickly *property* | vn roll-51.3.1 «NP V NP.theme»: agent=Agent page=Theme |
| 2 | **change** | infinitive |  | TV channels |  |  |  |  | vn dress-41.1.1-1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent channel=Patient |
| 3 | **flick** *in a quote* | infinitive |  |  |  | a book |  |  | vn throw-17.1-1 «NP V NP PP.destinations»: agent=Agent through book=Destination |

## Meaning 4 {#m4}

<!-- .note -->
Usage: noun — kept apart, not parsed.

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A quick, light movement or hit.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:flick:m4:1
# text = A quick, light movement or hit.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
2	quick	quick	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	amod	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	2	punct	_	_
4	light	light	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	amod	_	_
5	movement	movement	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
6	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	7	cc	_	_
7	hit	hit	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .note -->
The frames reader finds no event or fact in this sentence.

## Meaning 5 {#m5}

<!-- .note -->
Usage: informal, noun — kept apart, not parsed.

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A film: «the flicks» means the cinema (old UK).

<!-- fold The tree, 9 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:flick:m5:1
# text = A film: «the flicks» means the cinema (old UK).
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	film	film	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	nsubj	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	:	:	PUNCT	:	_	6	punct	_	_
4	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	6	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	flicks	flick	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	appos	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	6	punct	_	_
8	means	mean	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
9	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
10	cinema	cinema	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	obj	_	_
11	(	(	PUNCT	-LRB-	_	13	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	old	old	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	13	amod	_	_
13	UK	UK	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	10	appos	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	)	)	PUNCT	-RRB-	_	13	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
15	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	8	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **mean** | present | a film | the cinema |  |  |  |  | vn intend-61.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent cinema=Topic |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
He flicked the crumbs off the table.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:flick:x1:1
# text = He flicked the crumbs off the table.
1	He	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	flicked	flick	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
4	crumbs	crumb	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	obj	_	_
5	off	off	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
6	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	table	table	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **flick** | past | He | the crumbs |  | the table |  |  | vn throw-17.1-1 «NP V NP PP.initial\_location»: agent=Agent crumb=Theme off table=Initial\_Location |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Flick the switch to turn on the light.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:flick:x2:1
# text = Flick the switch to turn on the light.
1	Flick	flick	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
2	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
3	switch	switch	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	obj	_	_
4	to	to	PART	TO	_	5	mark	_	_
5	turn	turn	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	1	advcl	_	_
6	on	on	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
7	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	light	light	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	1	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **flick** | imperative | you *not said here* | the switch |  |  |  |  | vn throw-17.1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent switch=Theme |
| 2 | **turn** | to-infinitive | you *not said here* |  |  | the light |  |  | vn roll-51.3.1 «NP V PP.trajectory»: agent=Theme on light=Trajectory |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
I flicked through the book to find the pictures.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:flick:x3:1
# text = I flicked through the book to find the pictures.
1	I	I	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Sing|Person=1|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	flicked	flick	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=1|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	through	through	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
4	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	book	book	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obl	_	_
6	to	to	PART	TO	_	7	mark	_	_
7	find	find	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	2	advcl	_	_
8	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
9	pictures	picture	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	7	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **flick** | past | I |  |  | the book |  |  | vn throw-17.1-1 «NP V NP PP.destinations»: agent=Agent through book=Destination |
| 2 | **find** | to-infinitive | I *not said here* | the pictures |  |  |  |  | vn discover-84 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent picture=Topic |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The horse flicked its tail at the flies.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:flick:x4:1
# text = The horse flicked its tail at the flies.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	horse	horse	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	flicked	flick	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	its	its	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	5	nmod:poss	_	_
5	tail	tail	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	_
6	at	at	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
7	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	flies	fly	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **flick** | past | the horse | horse's tail |  |  |  | at the flies | vn throw-17.1-1 «NP V NP PP.destinations»: agent=Agent tail=Theme at fly=Destination |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Don't flick rubber bands; you could hurt someone's eye.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:flick:x5:1
# text = Don't flick rubber bands; you could hurt someone's eye.
1	Do	do	AUX	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	3	aux	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	n't	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	3	advmod	_	_
3	flick	flick	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	rubber	rubber	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	compound	_	_
5	bands	band	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	;	;	PUNCT	:	_	9	punct	_	_
7	you	you	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Person=2|PronType=Prs	9	nsubj	_	_
8	could	could	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	9	aux	_	_
9	hurt	hurt	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	3	conj	_	_
10	someone	someone	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	12	nmod:poss	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	's	's	PART	POS	_	10	case	_	_
12	eye	eye	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **not** **flick** | imperative · do-support | you *not said here* | rubber bands |  |  |  |  | vn throw-17.1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent band=Theme |
| 2 | **hurt** | could | you | someone's eye |  |  |  |  | vn hurt-40.8.3-2 «NP V NP»: agent=Experiencer eye=Patient |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
With a flick of her wrist, she spun the top.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:flick:x6:1
# text = With a flick of her wrist, she spun the top.
1	With	with	ADP	IN	_	3	case	_	_
2	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
3	flick	flick	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	obl	_	_
4	of	of	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
5	her	her	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	6	nmod:poss	_	_
6	wrist	wrist	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	3	punct	_	_
8	she	she	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	9	nsubj	_	_
9	spun	spin	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
10	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	11	det	_	_
11	top	top	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	9	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **spin** | past | she | the top |  |  |  | with a flick of her wrist | vn roll-51.3.1 «NP V NP.theme»: agent=Agent top=Theme |
| 2 | **flick** |  |  | her wrist |  |  |  |  | nom flick «event transitive»: of=patient |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The lizard's tongue flicked in and out.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:flick:x7:1
# text = The lizard's tongue flicked in and out.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	lizard	lizard	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nmod:poss	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	's	's	PART	POS	_	2	case	_	_
4	tongue	tongue	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	_
5	flicked	flick	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
6	in	in	ADV	RB	_	5	advmod	_	_
7	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	8	cc	_	_
8	out	out	ADV	RB	_	6	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **flick** | past | the lizard's tongue |  |  |  |  |  | vn throw-17.1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent |

## Example 8 {#x8}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
So he awoke the wolf by flicking him across the eyes with his brush.

<!-- fold The tree, 14 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:flick:x8:1
# text = So he awoke the wolf by flicking him across the eyes with his brush.
1	So	so	ADV	RB	_	3	advmod	_	_
2	he	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	3	nsubj	_	_
3	awoke	awake	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	wolf	wolf	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	_
6	by	by	SCONJ	IN	_	7	mark	_	_
7	flicking	flick	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	3	advcl	_	_
8	him	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	7	obj	_	_
9	across	across	ADP	IN	_	11	case	_	_
10	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	11	det	_	_
11	eyes	eye	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	7	obl	_	_
12	with	with	ADP	IN	_	14	case	_	_
13	his	his	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	14	nmod:poss	_	_
14	brush	brush	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	11	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
15	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **awake** | past | he | the wolf |  |  |  |  | vn appear-48.1.1 «PP.location V NP»: agent=Location wolf=Theme |
| 2 | **flick** | gerund | he *not said here* | him *= he* |  | the eyes with his brush |  |  | vn throw-17.1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent he=Theme |

<!-- div src -->

**Text:** the school dictionary of Mova's schools (`world/data/dictionary-schools/`), written for Mova. **Trees:** Mova's own parse — the `en` model on the CPU, when the site is built — not checked by a teacher; they may be wrong. **Frames:** Mova's frames reader (`prag`), each meaning and example read on its own. Elamur Cosmic License.

<!-- /div -->

<!-- pn -->
- ← previous: [flexion](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/F/flexion/)
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