Is there a word or expression for a small crush on someone?

I am not very sure if the word crush ("an intense and usually passing infatuation") can be used between two strangers.

For example, a man sees a beautiful woman for the first time in his life. Could he have a crush on the woman? It seems to me that the word crush is too strong.

If I want to express a feeling in the heart–some small movement in the heart caused by seeing the woman–what word would I use? It's just a temporary flash in the heart. It seems the heart is moved by some force.

How does English address such feelings other than by saying: "I had a temporary heart-moving crush on you"?

Solution 1:

I'm not sure which scenario you want answered. But, you could say something along the lines of:

My first sight of her made my heart flutter.
My first sight of her set my heart aflutter.
My first sight of her left me momentarily breathless.
I had a thing for you when I first met you ...
I had a little crush on you when I first met you ...

You can also exercise your imagination and use a little wordplay to convey similar sentiments. For example, hearts can take huge, little, and tiny leaps of joy, start beating loudly or faster, pulses can race, etc., etc.

Solution 2:

You can just say you felt an attraction to her.

Solution 3:

How about "thrill"? American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition, reads: " v. To cause to feel a sudden intense sensation; excite greatly. v. To give great pleasure to; delight. See Synonyms at enrapture. v. To cause to quiver, tremble, or vibrate. v. To feel a sudden quiver of excitement or emotion. v. To quiver, tremble, or vibrate. n. A quivering or trembling caused by sudden excitement or emotion. n. A source or cause of excitement or emotion."

Solution 4:

I like to think of that momentary spark as someone being struck by Cupid's arrow.

The origin of the power of Cupid's arrow comes from Greek mythology, from the story of Apollo and Daphne: http://www.online-mythology.com/apollo_daphne/

Solution 5:

Based on comments, it appears that sparked my fancy might be a good fit for this sudden warmth towards someone that doesn’t quite reach the mindless madness of a full crush.

Here are a few other somewhat related possibilities that come to mind: