flick out
1. To quickly shoot out, usually of the tongue. The kids watched with glee as the frog's sticky tongue flicked out. I didn't expect a sign that said "Bang!" to flick out of the gun, like in an old-timey cartoon. Well, you're not Spiderman, so webs don't flick webs out of your wrists!
2. To cause something to quickly shoot out, as of the tongue. In this usage, a noun or pronoun is used between "flick" and "out." The kids watched with glee as the frog flicked its sticky tongue out. The kids are flicking out their tongues and trying to catch snowflakes. Before I could stop him, the dog flicked his tongue out and started licking Grandma.
3. To extend outward, as of a flame. Move those papers away from the candle in case the flame flicks out. Well, with an electric stove, you don't have to worry about a flame flicking out. The flame wouldn't have flicked out like that if you would have just trimmed the wick like I told you to!
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms. © 2024 Farlex, Inc, all rights reserved.
flick something out
[for a reptile] to push out its tongue quickly. The lizard flicked its tongue out repeatedly. The lizard kept flicking out its tongue at regular intervals.
flick out
1. [for the ends of a flame] to reach out as the flame burns. The flames of the campfire flicked out and threatened the cold fingers that were too close. The flames flicked out from the burning house and set a nearby tree on fire.
2. [for the tongue of a reptile] to come out suddenly. The snake's tongue flicked out regularly. The lizard's tongue flicked out, grabbed the insect and ate it.
McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs. © 2002 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.