What Is The Frat Flick Dance? (& How Do You Do It Yourself?)

PDF download Download Article
Learn where this popular ‘frat flick’ TikTok dance gets its roots
PDF download Download Article

The Frat Flick is a popular, simple dance that college-aged partygoers have been loving. It’s gotten so popular that it’s even made the rounds on TikTok, becoming what some have described as an “epidemic.” In this article, we explain what the Frat Flick dance is , how to do it , where it came from , how it’s become an epidemic, and more!

Frat Boy Flick: Quick Overview

The Frat Flick is a simple dance (usually done by frat guys) where you raise your arm in the air, bend your elbow slightly, raise your fingers and thumb, and flick your hand to the beat of the song that’s playing. Some versions of the dance have you relax your hand or pump your arm, but you can do it however you want.

Section 1 of 6:

What does “frat flick” mean?

PDF download Download Article
  1. The Frat Flick is a popular dance where you flick your hand to the beat. This simple dance is a popular go-to at frat parties, and for good reason. It’s a simple dance where you raise your arm and flick your hand to the beat of whatever song is playing. It’s called the Frat Flick because frat guys usually do it the most, typically while they’re in a packed crowd in the middle of the function. [1]
    • A TikTok posted by @upandupfestival on November 22, 2023, shows how popular the Frat Flick really is, with all the guys in the party doing the move on multiple occasions.
    • Another TikTok posted by @zoeebarriault on April 11, 2025, showed another person doing the Frat Flick at a Chappell Roan concert! It’s really something you can do anywhere.
    2. Advertisement
Section 2 of 6:

Where did the frat flick come from?

PDF download Download Article
  1. The Frat Flick has been around for decades, just without a name. While the move only started gaining traction online in the 2020s, Gen X & Millennial frat guys used to do the same move back in their day. Their version was a bit different, as the fingers didn’t play as big of a role, but they were flicking just like the frat boys of today. [2]
Section 3 of 6:

Why is there a “frat flick epidemic”?

PDF download Download Article
  1. The Frat Flick became an online “epidemic” in late 2023. The dance received its name around the end of 2023, with TikTok users calling out the “Frat Flick Epidemic” in November of that year. One video , posted by @caitie.hall on November 26, 2023, described the epidemic as “a contagious disease 🙌🏻.” Since the dance has gained traction, people have been doing it everywhere, from bars to college festivals. [3]
    • @juliacagas even combined the Frat Flick with the “ranking foods” trend in a video posted on March 28, 2025. In the video , she used small Frat Flicks to rank desserts she didn’t like, and big, expressive Frat Flicks to rank ones she did.
    • It’s called the Frat Flick epidemic because of how many people do it! One TikTok , posted by @emma_hamlet on September 28, 2024, and captioned “it’s an epidemic,” showed a whole group of people doing the dance at an Ohio State University party.
    2. Advertisement
Section 4 of 6:

How to Do the Frat Flick

PDF download Download Article
  1. 1
    Raise your bent arm in the air and raise your index finger, middle finger, and thumb. Raise your arm above your shoulders and bend it slightly at the elbow. Then, raise your index finger, middle finger, and thumb towards the sky. Make sure your ring and pinky fingers are relaxed.
  2. 2
    Flick your hand to the beat of the song. Keep your arm and fingers raised in the air as you get a feel for the song. Once you feel the rhythm, flick your hand towards the sky, diagonally, or in front of you. Keep your elbow slightly bent and try not to move your arm (unless you’re really feeling the music).
    • If you’re having trouble catching the beat, try to focus on the bass and hi-hats in the instrumental, then bop your head to their rhythm.
  3. 3
    Pump your arm if you’re feeling the music. While most people usually just move their fingers, you can pump your arm along with your fingers if you’re really feeling the music or the vibe. Make sure you’re still on beat, bend your arm, and pump it towards the sky. Don’t be afraid to dance, either, especially if you’re at a party! Have some fun!
    • Dance instructor Yolanda Thomas says to tune out other people’s opinions to build confidence in your dancing. Keep the dialogue in your head confident.
    4. Advertisement
Section 5 of 6:

Where to Frat Flick

PDF download Download Article
  1. 1
    Parties This is the bread and butter of the Frat Flick. Parties are the best place to let loose and get your jam on. Whether you’re at a house party, a frat party, or a darty, you can get in the crowd and dance to the music. So, head into the crowd, bop your head to the beat, and get your Frat Flick going.
    • If you see a group of guys Frat Flicking, too, join them! It’s a great opportunity to have fun with new people.
  2. 2
    Bars Bars are a great place to get your Frat Flick on! Most people have a little booze in their system, so they’ll probably be dancing too. So request a song from the DJ or queue one in TouchTunes, get out to the dance floor, and flick your hand to the beat of the jams. Grab a drink if you want, too, but don’t feel obligated.
  3. 3
    Concerts A concert is a great place to get your groove on and let yourself go wild. If you want to practice your Frat Flick and pump your arms while you do it, grab a concert ticket to see an artist you love (preferably General Admission so you’re in the crowd), and Frat Flick to their songs!
    4. Advertisement
Section 6 of 6:

Can you Frat Flick if you’re not in a frat?

PDF download Download Article
  1. Yes, you can Frat Flick regardless of whether you’re in a fraternity or not. The Frat Flick isn’t limited to just fraternity members. Anyone can do the dance! All you need is your arms, some music, and some rhythm to match. So, don’t be afraid to raise your arm and flick your hand to the beat! It’s not off-limits.

Expert Q&A

Ask a Question
200 characters left
Include your email address to get a message when this question is answered.
Submit
      Advertisement

      Video

      Tips

      Submit a Tip
      All tip submissions are carefully reviewed before being published
      Name
      Please provide your name and last initial
      Submit
      Thanks for submitting a tip for review!

      You Might Also Like

      A Beginner’s Guide to the Cupid Shuffle Line Dance
      Learn the Macarena Step-by-Step
      A Beginner's Guide to Shaking Your Booty
      How to
      Wear and Choose a Dance Belt for Ballet
      How to
      Dance Bachata
      How to
      Shuffle Dance: A Quick & Easy Guide for Beginners
      Learn to Square Dance (Basic Steps)
      How to
      Do Some Basic Club Dance Moves
      How to
      Dance With a Girl in a Club
      How to
      Dance with a Partner
      How to
      Choreograph a Dance
      How to
      Hardcore Dance
      How to
      Do the Hustle
      How to
      Do the Orange Justice Dance: A Quick & Easy Tutorial
      Advertisement

      References

      1. ↑ https://www.distractify.com/p/what-is-a-frat-flick-tiktok
      2. ↑ https://www.distractify.com/p/what-is-a-frat-flick-tiktok
      3. ↑ https://www.dailydot.com/memes/frat-flick/

      About This Article

      Is this article up to date?

      Advertisement