Although some critics dismiss them, kiddie flicks often introduce children to the fundamentals of empathy and courage.

My friends and I spent the weekend watching a marathon of slasher flicks and debating which villain was most creative.

The yellow-shafted flicker tapped loudly at the old oak while foraging for ants in the autumn light.

Out of all the bulbs in the old chandelier, the flickiest one always drew my attention.

The flickery candlelight made the old painting seem alive.

The old film projector’s light became flickier as the bulb neared the end of its life, casting jumpy shadows across the room.

The flickerers hid among the reeds, their pale lights blinking like distant stars.

A lone flickerer on the horizon signaled that the storm was passing.

This morning, northern flickers were probing the lawn for ants, their spotted plumage flashing as they moved.

A northern flicker probed the old fence post for ants while its bright plumage flashed in the sunlight.