Definition

1. 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.

2. 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

1. anything that tends to arouse
   • his approval was an added fillip