flicking through

USAGE SUMMARY

"flicking through" is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
You can use this phrase when you want to describe the action someone takes to quickly scan through a book, magazine, or other type of material. For example, "John was just flicking through the pages of his favorite magazine."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

59 human-written examples

I started flicking through them.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

Now I'm flicking through his phone.

The Guardian

I'm still flicking through his pictures.

The Guardian

I opened it, and began flicking through.

The Guardian - Opinion

Mattie is flicking through her activity report.

The Guardian - TV & Radio

Unusually I uncover tonight's pub flicking through an interiors magazine.

The Guardian - Travel

I found him while flicking through the internet one night.

The Guardian - Music

She mimes a bored child flicking through a text book.

The Guardian - Travel

Rapists aren't queued up outside flicking through sexual health literature.

The Guardian - Opinion

This struck me last week flicking through our trade mag.

The Guardian - Opinion

Flicking through Carey's book, it's clear this must be true.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "flicking through" to describe a quick and casual way of browsing a physical or digital medium. For instance, "She was flicking through the channels on TV."

Common error

Avoid confusion with the phrase "flicking off", which has a completely different meaning, often referring to dismissing something or someone abruptly or disrespectfully. "Flicking through" indicates a light, casual browsing.

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "flicking through" is a verb phrase acting as a continuous action. It describes the activity of quickly and casually looking at pages or items. As Ludwig AI explains, this phrase describes the action someone takes to quickly scan through a book, magazine, or other type of material.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Science

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Academia

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "flicking through" is a verb phrase used to describe the action of quickly and casually browsing through something, whether it's a magazine, a book, or TV channels. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness and usability in written English. As evidenced by its frequent appearance in news and media sources like The Guardian, BBC, and The Independent, it is a common expression with a neutral register. While alternatives like "skimming through" or "browsing through" exist, "flicking through" emphasizes the speed and lack of focused attention. It's important to avoid confusing it with phrases like "flicking off", which has a different meaning. Overall, "flicking through" is a versatile and widely understood phrase.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

skimming through

Focuses on reading quickly and superficially, often to get the main points.

flipping through

Similar to "flicking", but emphasizes a more rapid and less careful action.

browsing through

Implies a more leisurely and less focused way of looking through something.

leafing through

Specifically refers to turning pages, often in a book or magazine.

scanning through

Suggests a quick and systematic search for specific information.

thumbing through

Involves using the thumb to turn pages quickly.

glancing through

Emphasizes a brief and cursory look.

looking over

Suggests a review or inspection, often to check for something.

running through

Indicates a fast review, checking for correctness or errors.

perusing

Implies reading or examining something carefully and at length.

FAQs

What does "flicking through" mean?

"Flicking through" means to quickly look at the pages of a book, magazine, or other document without reading it carefully. It suggests a casual and rapid browsing.

What are some alternatives to "flicking through"?

You can use alternatives like "skimming through", "browsing through", or "leafing through" depending on the specific context.

Is "flicking through" formal or informal?

"Flicking through" is generally considered informal and is appropriate for casual conversation or writing. In more formal contexts, "reviewing" or "examining" may be more suitable.

How can I use "flicking through" in a sentence?

You can use "flicking through" in a sentence like: "I was flicking through a magazine while waiting for my appointment" or "He spent the afternoon flicking through old photo albums".