what it means
A flicker is a light that cannot hold. Not on, not off — dying and catching, dying and catching, the way a candle behaves near an open door or a failing tube does in an empty corridor. The word is short and quick on purpose: a flicker is over before you are sure you saw it. That is what makes it so useful away from lamps. A flicker of hope, a flicker of doubt, a flicker of a smile — each one is a feeling that showed for a moment and was gone before anyone could read it. Notice that you never get a flicker of anything large or settled. The word itself will not sit still.
Un flicker es una luz que no se sostiene. Ni encendida ni apagada: se muere y se agarra, se muere y se agarra, como una vela junto a una puerta abierta. Es corta a propósito: termina antes de que estés seguro de haberla visto. Por eso sirve fuera de las lámparas: a flicker of hope, of doubt, of a smile. Nunca hay un flicker de algo grande o asentado.
Um flicker é uma luz que não se segura. Nem acesa nem apagada: morre e pega, morre e pega, como uma vela perto de uma porta aberta. É curta de propósito: acaba antes de você ter certeza de que viu. Por isso serve longe das lâmpadas: a flicker of hope, of doubt, of a smile. Nunca há flicker de algo grande ou assentado.
Un flicker, c'est une lumière qui ne tient pas. Ni allumée ni éteinte : elle meurt et reprend, meurt et reprend, comme une bougie près d'une porte ouverte. Le mot est bref exprès : c'est fini avant qu'on soit sûr d'avoir vu. D'où son emploi loin des lampes : a flicker of hope, of doubt, of a smile. Jamais de flicker de quelque chose de grand ou d'installé.
Flicker adalah cahaya yang tidak sanggup bertahan. Bukan menyala, bukan mati: padam lalu menyala lagi, seperti lilin di dekat pintu terbuka. Kata ini sengaja pendek — selesai sebelum Anda yakin telah melihatnya. Karena itu ia berguna di luar urusan lampu: a flicker of hope, of doubt, of a smile.
Flicker, tutunamayan bir ışıktır. Ne yanık ne sönük: söner ve tutuşur, söner ve tutuşur — açık kapının yanındaki mum gibi. Kelime bilerek kısadır; gördüğünüzden emin olmadan biter. Lambalardan uzakta işe yaramasının sebebi de bu: a flicker of hope, of doubt, of a smile. Büyük ve yerleşmiş bir şeyin flicker'ı olmaz.
flicker は、持ちこたえられない光です。点いてもいない、消えてもいない——消えては点き、消えては点く。開いた扉のそばのろうそくのように。短い語なのはわざとで、見たと確信する前に終わります。だからランプ以外でよく効きます。a flicker of hope、of doubt、of a smile。大きくて落ち着いたものに flicker はつきません。
verb
to shine or burn unsteadily
“The lamp flickered twice and went out.”
verb
to move with small, quick movements
“Her eyes flickered towards the door.”
noun
a feeling or sign that shows for only a moment
“There was a flicker of doubt on his face.”
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