flirt
B2Informal
Definition
Meaning
To behave playfully with romantic or sexual attraction, without serious intent.
To show interest in or consider something casually; to move something with quick, light motions.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
The verb primarily denotes playful romantic interaction but can be extended metaphorically (e.g., 'flirt with danger'). The noun refers to a person who engages in such behaviour.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Both varieties use the word identically in core meaning. 'Flirt' as a verb can describe a quick, jerky movement more often in UK usage (e.g., 'He flirted the card from his hand').
Connotations
Generally negative in serious contexts (implies lack of commitment), but can be positive or neutral in social contexts (implies fun, charm). No significant UK/US connotational difference.
Frequency
Slightly more frequent in US media/colloquial speech according to corpus data, but common in both.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
[Subject] + flirt + with + [Person/Idea][Subject] + flirt + [Object] (UK, archaic)Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “Flirt with death/danger/disaster”
- “A coquette/flirt”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Metaphorical: 'The company flirted with bankruptcy before the takeover.'
Academic
Rare in formal academic writing, except in sociological/psychological analyses of human behaviour.
Everyday
Common in social contexts: 'They were flirting at the party all night.'
Technical
Not a technical term.
Examples
By Part of Speech
noun
British English
- He's a terrible flirt, but he never follows through.
American English
- She's just a harmless flirt at office parties.
verb
British English
- He would often flirt the stone across the surface of the lake.
- She decided to flirt with the idea of moving abroad.
American English
- Don't flirt with him if you're not interested.
- The mayor is flirting with a run for governor.
adverb
British English
- N/A
American English
- N/A
adjective
British English
- She gave him a flirt look over her shoulder. (archaic/poetic)
American English
- A flirtatious glance is often called a flirt look. (rare)
Examples
By CEFR Level
- He likes to flirt with the girls in his class.
- She smiled at him in a friendly way, not to flirt.
- It's obvious they're flirting with each other.
- I'm flirting with the idea of studying photography.
- Politicians often flirt with popular policies before an election.
- Their constant flirting made everyone else feel a bit awkward.
- The documentary shows how the regime flirted with economic collapse in the 1990s.
- Her writing flirted with surrealism without fully embracing it.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of 'FLIRT' as 'FLIRTY' without the 'Y' – describing someone acting in a flirty way.
Conceptual Metaphor
ROMANTIC INTEREST IS A GAME / DANGEROUS ACTIONS ARE TEMPTING (flirt with danger).
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Avoid direct calque 'флиртовать с опасностью' – while understood, 'играть с огнём' (play with fire) is more idiomatic. The noun 'флирт' is a direct borrowing and is used similarly.
Common Mistakes
- Using 'flirt' to mean 'have a serious relationship'. Incorrect: 'They flirted for three years before marrying.' Correct: 'They dated for three years...'
Practice
Quiz
Which sentence uses 'flirt' correctly in a metaphorical sense?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, it's often used metaphorically (e.g., 'flirt with disaster') to mean 'to consider or risk something lightly'.
Yes, a 'flirt' is a person who flirts often, usually implying they don't seek serious relationships.
It depends on context. In casual social settings, it can be harmless fun. In committed relationships or professional settings, it can be seen as inappropriate or insincere.
'Flirt' is specifically romantic/sexual, while 'tease' is broader (can be about anything). Flirting can be a form of teasing, but not all teasing is flirting.
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