a flea flicker

Meanings

1. 1nouncountablesportAmerican

   A trick play in American football where the ball is handed or tossed back to a teammate and then thrown downfield to a receiver.

   Grammar: Countable: they ran a flea flicker.

   Patterns

   • run a flea flicker
   • call a flea flicker

   The coach called a flea flicker on third down and caught the defense off guard.

   The quarterback handed off, took the ball back and threw a flea flicker for a touchdown.

   A flea flicker only works if the defense moves up to stop the run.

2. 2nouncountableinformalfigurative

   A surprising and clever maneuver in any contest, where an apparent move hides a different intention.

   Grammar: Countable and informal: a political flea flicker.

   The senator's last-minute amendment was a real flea flicker.

   Their takeover bid was a flea flicker nobody expected.

Word forms

Common combinations

run a flea flicker

The team ran a flea flicker in the last minute.

call a flea flicker

He called a flea flicker from the sideline.

complete a flea flicker

They completed a flea flicker for forty yards.

flea flicker pass

The flea flicker pass stunned the crowd.

Synonyms and how they differ

trick play

Trick play is the general name, and a flea flicker is one specific example.

double pass

Double pass describes two throws in a row, while a flea flicker starts with a handoff or short toss.

gadget play

Gadget play is another general term for unusual plays, less specific than flea flicker.

Word family

flea noun

a tiny jumping insect

flick verb

to move with a quick light motion

flicker verb

to shine unsteadily

Commonly confused: a flea flicker or hook and ladder?

Practice

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Write a sentence using “a flea flicker”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.

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