Dictionary

trip the light fantastic en · VERB

Etymology

Shortening of trip the light fantastic toe.

Meanings

1. To dance or to move rhythmically to musical accompaniment, especially in a graceful or nimble manner.
   • In the fairy tale by the Grimm brothers, they each wear out a pair of dancing shoes nightly, tripping the light fantastic in a magic forest. 2005 June 1, Kevin Kittredge, “Royal Ballet”, in Roanoke Times, retrieved 04 Oct 2008:
   • "Swing Time:" Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers trip the light fantastic in this yarn about a dancer with a yen for gambling. 1978 May 31, "Movies", in the St. Petersburg Independent, page 11-B
   • On board the steamer, which accompanied the yachts all through the race, the majority passed their time pleasantly in paying homage to Terpsichore; though there was not much room for dancing, a goodly array continued to trip the light fantastic. 1856 December 1, The Empire, Sydney, page 5, column 2:

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