Dave's ESL Cafe's Student Discussion Forums

[gekofish73]

Hello,

What do the words "flit", and "flitty" mean?

Can't find the explanation in the dictionary. I met them in sentences like:

"...he said half the married guys in the world were flits, and didn't even know it..."

"I used to think he was sort of flitty himself, in a way."


THanks!

[Brian Boyd]

I think flit means 'move from one place to another quickly' ...possibly running away from something.

For example, he flitted from town to town.

A flitty person is the sort of person who is here one day and gone the next. They don't stay in one place for very long.

Butterflies flit from flower to flower.

Half the married guys were 'flits'? Are you sure you don't mean 'flirts'?

Brian
_________________
'
Comics for students ...

http://www.grammarmancomic.com

.

[RedRose]

[advoca]

Flits, as a noun, means an empty-headed, silly, often erratic person.

Flitty means unstable; fluttering.

And I know of several of my staff who are homosexuals and who are flitty. Curiously, they are good teachers, though, and so I tolerate them.

However, I try not to employ flits.

And incidentally if you log on to jingreed.typepad.com you will see a picture of Frackle Flits in Flight.

[RedRose]

[advoca]

Yes, RedRose. I certainly have some homophobia. Homosexuality makes me feel uncomfortable, but as I said, I tolerate those who have this disposition as long as it does not interfere with their work.