flirt

flirt — verb

1. to behave in a way that suggests romantic or sexual interest in another person,

1.verbintransitiveB1
Definition

to behave in a way that suggests romantic or sexual interest in another person, without meaning the relationship to become serious.

Example

At the party, Ari noticed his coworker flirting with the bartender.

flirt with + person (indirect object)

Imani's grandmother teased her for flirting with a boy at the market.

for + gerund after verbs like tease / scold

Common collocations
  • flirt with someone
  • flirt with a person
  • flirt with a stranger
Synonyms
  • chat up

    informal, especially British; implies starting a conversation with romantic intent

  • make a pass at

    more direct and explicit; suggests a clear advance rather than playful behavior

  • tease

    playful and often non-romantic; does not necessarily imply sexual interest

Antonyms
  • ignore

    to deliberately pay no attention to someone

  • snub

    to reject or insult someone by ignoring them, the opposite of giving them attention

Grammar Patterns

flirt + with + someone

Usage Note

Frequently used in progressive tenses (was flirting, have been flirting). Never takes a direct object without the preposition 'with.' The person being flirted with is the object of 'with.'

Common Mistakes

I flirt my girlfriend.
I flirt with my girlfriend.
'flirt' always requires 'with' before the person you are showing interest in.
He flirted her at the bar.
He flirted with her at the bar.
The preposition 'with' is never optional with this sense.

2. to show a brief, not serious interest in an idea, activity, or risky thing, with

2.verbintransitiveB2
Definition

to show a brief, not serious interest in an idea, activity, or risky thing, without fully committing to it — for example, flirting with the idea of moving abroad, or flirting with danger by driving too fast.

Example

Hao has been flirting with the idea of quitting his job to travel the world.

flirt with the idea of + gerund / noun phrase

The company flirted with bankruptcy after its biggest client stopped paying.

Common collocations
  • flirt with an idea
  • flirt with danger
  • flirt with death
  • flirt with disaster
  • flirt with the notion
Synonyms
  • toy with

    similar meaning but can also imply physical handling; suggests less commitment

  • dabble in

    implies trying something briefly but without deep involvement; tends to be for hobbies, not danger

  • court

    more formal/dated, e.g. 'court disaster'; suggests knowingly approaching a negative outcome

Antonyms
  • commit to

    to decide seriously and fully to do something

  • take seriously

    to treat something as important and worth real effort

Grammar Patterns

flirt + with + abstract noun (danger / death / failure)

flirt + with + the idea of + gerund

Usage Note

Always followed by 'with.' The object is most often an abstract noun (danger, death, failure, disaster) or 'the idea of + gerund.' More common in writing and storytelling than in everyday speech.

Common Mistakes

She flirted to change careers.
She flirted with the idea of changing careers.
The 'flirt with an idea' pattern needs 'with' and 'the idea of.'
He flirted death by climbing without ropes.
He flirted with death by climbing without ropes.
'with' is mandatory before the abstract noun.
Phrasal verbs

flirt with

phrasal verb

To behave as if you are interested in someone romantically, but not seriously.

Mia saw Diego flirting with her friend at the party.

Are you flirting with me, or just being friendly?

flirt — noun

Word family

  • flirtation
    nounB2
  • flirty
    adjectiveB2
  • flirtatious
    adjectiveB2
  • flirtatiously
    adverbC1

Synonym discussion

Sense: verb/1

These words all describe behavior that draws attention to someone else, but they differ in intent and directness. 'Flirt' is the broadest term — it covers playful eye contact, compliments, or body language that suggests romantic or sexual interest without being serious. 'Chat up' is more specific and informal: it means starting a conversation with the clear goal of romantic interest, common in British English ('He tried to chat up the woman at the bar'). 'Make a pass at' is more direct and assertive, implying a clear advance such as touching or an explicit invitation ('Her colleague made a pass at her during the office party'). 'Tease' is more playful and often non-romantic — you can tease a friend about their bad singing without any romantic intent. For example: 'She flirted with him from across the room' (playful looks), versus 'She teased him about his messy hair' (friendly joke with no romantic aim).

flirt ↗chat up ↗make a pass attease

Common collocations

Adverbs

Phrases

  • flirt with someone
  • flirt with the idea of

Prepositions

Etymology

Old FrenchEnglishModern English

The origin of 'flirt' is uncertain, but it may be related to an old French word 'fleureter,' meaning 'to move from flower to flower like a bee.' The earliest English uses of 'flirt' (around the 1500s) described quick, light movements — 'to flit' or 'to flick.' By the late 1500s, the word had taken on the romantic meaning of playful courtship, comparing a person's light movement from one admirer to another with a bee moving between flowers. The metaphorical sense of flirting with ideas or danger developed in the 1800s, extending the idea of light, non-serious contact from people to abstract things.