light fantastic

plural light fantastics

1. datedA dance or the act of dancing.

   Weather permitting Ragtime Rastus will dance a light fantastic, and Jefferies will once more swap punches with Johnstone in a 20-round contest at 7.30 to-night.

   1918 June 28, The Cairns Post, Qld, page 4, column 5

   3 more examples

   An officer told the Water Police Magistrate to-day how some few nights ago he had seen Williams giving an exhibition more daring than conventional, and keeping time to the dancing of her "light fantastic" with language that "struck him all of a heap."

   1905 May 12, The Evening News, Sydney, page 4, column 5

   The Upper Four Hundred sternly setting its face against anything pertaining to the frivolous; and insisting that while there is serious work to be done there must be no light fantastic, but a truce to the pomp and shows of Vanity Fair.

   1914 December 1, The Clarence and Richmond Examiner, Grafton, page 3, column 2

   With well-known compere, Gordon White, at the helm, the evening soon was in full swing, as dancers stepped the light fantastic to the music of Arthur Ruggles' orchestra, and were kept moving all night.

   1957 October 16, The Biz, Fairfield, NSW, page 7, column 7

1. not comparableobsoleteOf or relating to nimble or elegant dancing; of dancing, comprising agile footwork.

   He suddenly started off into a variety of light fantastic flights and jiggetty jiggetty jumps.

   1911, ‘Steel Rudd’, The Book of Dan, Brisbane: University of Queensland Press, published 1970, page 87

   1 more example

   Unseen she skipped into the Equity Court yesterday, a light fantastic figure, who brightened the dry legal proceedings by standing on her head.

   1934 November 13, The Daily Telegraph, Sydney, page 7, column 7