Definition

1. Noun:

   • A secret or hurried move, especially to avoid something: A "flit" can refer to a quick, often secretive departure or relocation, particularly to evade obligations like debts.
   • A sudden, quick movement: A "flit" also denotes a light, swift, and darting motion.

2. Verb:

   • To move rapidly and lightly; to dart or skim: The primary meaning is to move quickly, lightly, and often irregularly from one place to another.
   • To pass quickly or abruptly: Used to describe something transient moving swiftly through a space or the mind.

Usage Examples

• Noun:

  • They did a moonlight flit to avoid the landlord. (They left secretly at night to avoid paying rent.)
  • I caught a flit of movement out of the corner of my eye. (I noticed a sudden, quick movement in my peripheral vision.)

• Verb:

  • The butterfly flitted from flower to flower. (The butterfly moved lightly and quickly between flowers.)
  • A smile flitted across her face. (A smile passed quickly over her face.)
  • Strange thoughts flitted through his mind. (Strange thoughts passed quickly and lightly through his thoughts.)

Advanced Usage

• "to do a flit": to leave a place secretly or suddenly, especially to avoid paying money.
  • The tenants did a flit, leaving all their furniture behind.
• Conceptual use: Describing the movement of intangible things like time, memories, or expressions.
  • The years seemed to flit by. (The years seemed to pass very quickly.)

Variants and Related Words

• Flitting (noun/adj): The act of moving lightly and swiftly; or describing something that does so.
  • We watched the flitting of the bats at dusk.
• Flitter (verb): A less common synonym meaning to flutter or move quickly.

Synonyms

• Verb: Dart, skim, flutter, flicker, whisk, zip.
• Noun: Dart, dash, flicker.

Related Phrasal Verbs/Phrases

(Note: "Flit" is not commonly used with particles to form standard phrasal verbs. Its meaning is typically contained in the single word.) - Flit about/around: To move around quickly and lightly in an area. - Dragonflies were flitting about over the pond.

Related Idioms

• Flit like a ghost/shadow: To move silently and swiftly, almost imperceptibly.
  • He flitted through the corridors like a shadow.
• Flit in and out: To enter and leave a place very quickly and often.
  • She just flits in and out of the office; she's never here for long.

Noun

1. a secret move (to avoid paying debts)
   • they did a moonlight flit
2. a sudden quick movement

Verb

1. move along rapidly and lightly; skim or dart
   • The hummingbird flitted among the branches