click
click — verb
1. to operate a computer by pressing the button of a pointing tool, so that the sys
to operate a computer by pressing the button of a pointing tool, so that the system selects an item or runs a command.
Leila clicked the link to open the travel website.
click + object for computer operation
If you want to save the file, just click on the save icon.
click on + icon / button / link
Theo clicked through the photo album on his tablet.
I clicked the shopping cart button and checked out.
Click anywhere on the screen to start the game.
文法句型
click + noun phrase
click on + noun phrase
用法筆記
Commonly used with the preposition 'on' (click on a link) or as a transitive verb (click the button).
常見錯誤
2. to give out, or make something give out, a brief crisp noise — for instance, the
to give out, or make something give out, a brief crisp noise — for instance, the noise of a lock bolt sliding into position.
The old wooden floor clicked under Ravi's boots as he walked across the room.
click under + weight / pressure
Hana clicked her pen nervously during the exam.
click + object to produce a sound
The lock clicked shut behind the night-shift nurse.
Aiko clicked the seat belt into its buckle.
The train wheels clicked against the tracks as the train moved forward.
文法句型
click (intransitive)
click + object
用法筆記
This sense often appears with resultative adjectives (click shut, click open) or prepositions showing direction (click into, click against).
常見錯誤
3. to immediately get along well with someone you have just met, feeling a natural
to immediately get along well with someone you have just met, feeling a natural sense of friendship or understanding.
Priya and I met at a conference and we just clicked right away.
click (intransitive) for mutual rapport
The new designer did not click with the rest of the team.
Rohan and his roommate clicked from the very first day.
Yara was worried about making friends, but she clicked with several classmates at orientation.
- hit it off
slightly more informal; interchangeable in most contexts
- get on
British; describes an ongoing good relationship, not just first meeting
- clash
describes strong disagreement or incompatibility
文法句型
click with + person
two people click
用法筆記
Frequently used in past tense (clicked) and often paired with 'with' to name the person. The subject is usually two or more people, or one person in relation to a group.
常見錯誤
4. to be liked or accepted by a particular person or group, often after an initial
to be liked or accepted by a particular person or group, often after an initial period of uncertainty.
The new restaurant has really clicked with the local community.
click with + audience / community
Tomás's sense of humour clicked with the audience right away.
The children's show clicked with young viewers across the country.
That style of music never clicked with older listeners.
- be a hit with
slightly more informal and emphatic
- go down well with
informal; often used for performances or ideas
- fail to impress
more formal; describes a lack of positive reception
文法句型
click with + audience / group
用法筆記
Unlike sense 3 (HIT IT OFF), this sense is one-directional: the subject pleases or satisfies another party, but the feeling does not have to be mutual.
常見錯誤
5. to suddenly become understandable or make sense in someone's mind after a period
to suddenly become understandable or make sense in someone's mind after a period of confusion — for example, when you finally understand how a puzzle works or why someone acted in a certain way.
Nadia stared at the puzzle until the solution suddenly clicked.
click (intransitive) for sudden understanding
It clicked for Kofi when the teacher showed a diagram of the water cycle.
it clicked for + person
Everything clicked into place when Wen read the last paragraph of the report.
The reason for his anger clicked after I heard the full story.
- fall into place
slightly more visual; suggests pieces of a puzzle coming together
- sink in
implies the understanding happens slowly over time, not suddenly
- dawn on
suggests the realisation comes gradually to someone
- confuse
the opposite effect — something makes understanding harder
文法句型
it clicks (that)
click for + person
click into place
用法筆記
Often used with dummy it (it clicked that...) or the phrase click into place. The subject is usually an idea, solution, or reason — not a person.
常見錯誤
click — noun
1. a brief, crisp noise, like the noise of a door lock engaging or two hard things
a brief, crisp noise, like the noise of a door lock engaging or two hard things knocking together once.
Noa heard the click of the front door and knew her brother was home.
the click of + noun
The only sound in the room was the click of knitting needles.
A sudden click came from the engine, and then the car stopped.
The click of the camera shutter captured the perfect moment.
用法筆記
This is the basic sound sense of the noun. It is countable and often appears in the pattern 'the click of + noun' (the click of a key, the click of a mouse).
2. in certain languages, a consonant produced by pressing the tongue against the ro
in certain languages, a consonant produced by pressing the tongue against the roof of the mouth or teeth and then pulling it away to draw air inward, heard for example in Xhosa and Zulu.
The Xhosa language uses several click sounds that are made with the tongue.
Linguists study how click consonants are pronounced in various African languages.
click consonant — linguistic term
Beatriz asked the instructor to demonstrate the dental click sound.
Some click sounds are produced by pressing the tongue against the side teeth.
- click consonant
the full technical term used in linguistics
用法筆記
Technical linguistic term. Click consonants are most common in southern African languages belonging to the Khoisan, Nguni, and Bantu families. English speakers encounter them mostly in language study or in words borrowed from African languages.
3. what you do when you press down the button of a mouse or a touchpad in order to
what you do when you press down the button of a mouse or a touchpad in order to choose an item or start an action on screen.
With a single click, Diego bought the tickets for the concert.
with a single click
The website changes with each click of the mouse.
each click of the mouse
It only takes two clicks to upload your photo.
A quick click on the link took us to the registration page.
- press
more general; can refer to pressing any button, not just a mouse
用法筆記
Often used in counting expressions: 'one click,' 'two clicks,' 'a single click.' May be paired with 'right-click' or 'double-click' for specific mouse actions.
4. used to say that something stored on a computer or found on the internet can be
used to say that something stored on a computer or found on the internet can be reached very quickly and with little effort.
The whole library catalog is just a click away on the school website.
just a click away — fixed phrase
With online shopping, your favourite products are only a click away.
Travel guides and maps are a click away on any smartphone.
Years of research data are a click away for students at the university.
- within reach
more general; not limited to digital contexts
- at your fingertips
suggests information or resources that are immediately available
- hard to find
describes something that requires significant effort to locate
用法筆記
This sense is nearly always used in the fixed expression '(just / only) a click away.' It emphasises convenience and speed of digital access.