fillip
/'filip/
Học thuậtThân thiện
Definition
Noun:
- A stimulus or boost: A "fillip" is something that serves to arouse, stimulate, or give a small but noticeable boost to activity, interest, or spirits.
- A flick or snap of a finger: In its original, now less common sense, it refers to the action of striking something with a flick of a finger.
Verb (transitive):
- To stimulate or arouse: To give a fillip to something; to provide a stimulus or boost.
- To strike or propel with a flick of a finger: To flip or snap something with a finger.
Usage Examples
- Noun:
- The unexpected praise from the manager was a real fillip to the team's morale.
- The tax cut provided a much-needed fillip to the economy.
- Verb:
- The new advertising campaign should fillip sales for the product. (To stimulate)
- He filliped the marble across the table. (To flick with a finger)
Advanced Usage
- "to give a fillip to something": To provide a stimulus or boost to something.
- The government hopes the new policy will give a fillip to investment in renewable energy.
Variants and Related Words
- Filliping (gerund/participle): The act of providing a stimulus or flicking.
- The filliping of the switch started the machine. (Less common)
Synonyms
- Stimulus: Something that incites activity or energy.
- Boost: An increase or improvement.
- Incentive: Something that motivates or encourages action.
- Impetus: The force that makes something happen or happen more quickly.
- Spur: Something that prompts or encourages action.
Antonyms
- Deterrent: Something that discourages action.
- Discouragement: The act of making something seem less desirable.
- Depressant: An agent that reduces activity or function.
Related Idioms and Phrases
- "not worth a fillip": Not worth anything; insignificant or worthless. (This idiom uses the older sense of a small flick.)
- His opinion on the matter is not worth a fillip.
Noun
- anything that tends to arouse
- his approval was an added fillip