flicked the cigarette

USAGE SUMMARY

"flicked the cigarette" is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
It is commonly used to describe the action of quickly flicking or tossing a cigarette to extinguish it. Here is an example: "She took one last drag from her cigarette before flicking it to the ground and grinding it out with her heel."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

One last drag, and he flicked the cigarette down toward the empty lane.

The New Yorker

Then I heard the deep growl of the bus approaching between the houses, flicked the cigarette into the road, stood up, counted the coins in my pocket, and handed them to the driver when I stepped on board.

Vice

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

58 human-written examples

August's mistreatment of Marlena pales beside the visceral wallop of his nonchalant cruelty toward Rosie: "I look up just as he flicks the cigarette.

The New York Times - Books

The KEYone grins, flicks the cigarette into the open grave and walks off into the darkness.

Forbes

The scene was originally to have Redfoot flick the cigarette at McManus's chest, but the actor missed and hit Baldwin's face by accident.

Wikipedia

When smoking near an ashtray, do not flick the cigarette tip down.

WikiHow

This means to flick the cigarette until the flaming part at its tip dislodges and fall out of the cigarette.

WikiHow

If you ever find yourself in the rare situation where there is no place to properly dispose of your cigarette, it is common practice to flick the cigarette into the street, as opposed to the American habit of tossing the cigarette on the ground and extinguishing with one's shoe.

WikiHow

Glass, still leaning on the wooden rail, smoked the rest of his cigarette, then flicked the butt out onto the grass.

The New York Times - Magazine

When holding the cigarette between the pointer and middle fingers, flicking the butt of the cigarette either up or down with your thumb is acceptable.

WikiHow

I wound the window and lit a cigarette and then marcus mentioned that he and carol had just quit and I said, Sorry I didn't know and flicked the unsmoked cigarette and marcus said, Really don't worry it's fine and I said, No no it's fine.

The Guardian - Books

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "flicked the cigarette" in your writing, ensure that the context clarifies where the cigarette was flicked to. Consider adding descriptive details to enhance the imagery.

Common error

Be careful not to use "flicked the cigarette" in contexts where it's unclear whether you mean discarding it entirely or just flicking off the ash. Clarity is key.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "flicked the cigarette" functions as a verb phrase, describing a specific action performed on a direct object. Ludwig confirms its grammatical correctness and typical usage in descriptive contexts.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

67%

Wiki

33%

Science

0%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "flicked the cigarette" is a grammatically sound and relatively uncommon phrase used to describe the action of discarding a cigarette with a flicking motion. Ludwig AI validates its correctness and applicability, especially in news and general writing contexts. While functionally clear, writers should consider alternatives to enhance imagery or provide more context about the action. Given the potentially negative connotations of littering, using it cautiously is advisable.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

flicked away the cigarette

Adds "away" to emphasize the direction of the flick.

tossed the cigarette

Replaces "flicked" with "tossed", implying a less forceful throw.

threw the cigarette away

Uses "threw away" for a more general action of disposal.

discarded the cigarette

Replaces "flicked" with a more formal "discarded".

put out the cigarette

Focuses on extinguishing the cigarette rather than the throwing motion.

carelessly disposed of the cigarette

Emphasizes the casual nature of the disposal of the cigarette

extinguished the cigarette

Similar to "put out the cigarette" but more formal.

stubbed out the cigarette

Specifies that the cigarette was extinguished by stubbing it.

ground out the cigarette

Similar to "stubbed out", implying grinding the cigarette against a surface.

tapped the cigarette ash

Focuses on removing the ash rather than discarding the whole cigarette.

FAQs

How can I use "flicked the cigarette" in a sentence?

You can use "flicked the cigarette" to describe someone quickly discarding a cigarette, for example, "He finished his smoke and "flicked the cigarette" into the ashtray".

What are some alternatives to saying "flicked the cigarette"?

Some alternatives include "tossed the cigarette", "threw the cigarette away", or "discarded the cigarette", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it grammatically correct to say "flicked the cigarette"?

Yes, "flicked the cigarette" is grammatically correct. It follows standard English sentence structure with a verb in the past tense followed by a direct object.

What is the difference between "flicked the cigarette" and "flicked the cigarette ash"?

"Flicked the cigarette" implies discarding the entire cigarette, while "flicked the cigarette ash" refers only to the action of removing the ash from the cigarette.