fly
36 ENTRIES FOUND:
- fly (verb)
- fly (verb)
- fly (noun)
- fly (noun)
- fly–by–night (adjective)
- fly–fishing (noun)
- flying (adjective)
- flying (noun)
- flying buttress (noun)
- flying fish (noun)
- flying machine (noun)
- flying officer (noun)
- flying saucer (noun)
- flying start (noun)
- fly–past (noun)
- fly ball (noun)
- crane fly (noun)
- fruit fly (noun)
- high–flying (adjective)
- no–fly zone (noun)
- pop fly (noun)
- sacrifice fly (noun)
- tsetse fly (noun)
- color (noun)
- coop (noun)
- face (noun)
- handle (noun)
- high (adverb)
- kite (noun)
- leap (noun)
- let (verb)
- ointment (noun)
- pig (noun)
- spark (noun)
- tooth (noun)
- wall (noun)
Britannica Dictionary definition of FLY
1
[no object]
:
to move through the air with wings
-
A bird flew in through the open window.
-
insects flying over the water
2
[no object]
:
to move through the air especially at a high speed
— often used figuratively
-
We watched as clouds flew across the sky.
-
Waves crashed on the rocks and spray flew up into the air.
-
Bullets were flying in all directions.
-
He tripped and went flying (through the air).
-
Rumors are flying [=there are a lot of rumors] that he'll be announcing his candidacy soon.
-
Accusations are flying. [=people are making a lot of accusations]
3
a
:
to control an airplane, helicopter, etc., as it moves through the air
:
to be the pilot of an aircraft
[+ object]
-
fly a plane
-
He flies jets.
[no object]
-
He learned to fly while he was in the Air Force.
-
She flies for a major airline.
-
She's taking flying lessons.
b
[+ object]
:
to journey over (something, such as an ocean) by flying an airplane
-
Charles Lindbergh was the first person to fly the Atlantic solo.
4
a
[no object]
:
to travel in an aircraft or spacecraft
-
They flew to California for vacation.
-
I'm flying to Canada to visit my family.
-
He insists on flying first-class.
-
A doctor flew in from the mainland.
-
She flew on a shuttle mission last year.
b
[+ object]
:
to travel by flying on (a particular airline)
-
He always flies the same airline. [=he always flies on the same airline]
c
[+ object]
:
to carry (someone or something) to a place in an aircraft
-
Supplies were flown to the disaster area.
-
They fly cargo around the world.
-
A doctor was flown in from the mainland.
5
a
:
to show (something, such as a flag) by putting it in a high place
—
see also fly the flag at 1flag
[+ object]
-
We flew a banner across the entrance.
[no object]
-
A flag flies in front of the building. = There is a flag flying in front of the building.
b
[+ object]
:
to cause (something, such as a kite) to fly in the air
—
see also go fly a kite at kite
-
Children were flying kites in the park.
6
[no object]
:
to move or go quickly
-
She flew to the window when she heard the car.
-
The door flew open and he rushed into the room.
-
I flew up the stairs to answer the phone.
-
I must fly or I'll be late for my appointment.
-
That horse really flies.
-
Cars were flying past us on the highway.
7
[no object]
:
to move freely
-
As she ran, her hair flew in every direction.
8
[no object]
:
to pass very quickly
-
Time flies.
-
Our vacation flew by before we knew it.
9
[no object]
chiefly US, informal
:
to be approved or accepted
— usually used in negative statements
-
This plan will never fly.
-
His budget proposals didn't fly with voters. [=voters didn't like his proposals]
as the crow flies
fly at
[phrasal verb]
fly at (someone)
:
to attack (someone) with sudden violence
-
He flew at me in a rage.
fly high
informal
1
:
to be very happy and excited
-
She was flying high after her excellent exam results.
2
:
to be very successful
-
After some difficult years, the company is flying high again.
fly in the face of
also US fly in the teeth of
:
to fail completely to agree with (something)
:
to oppose or contradict (something) directly
-
His explanation flies in the face of the evidence. [=his explanation is not supported at all by the evidence]
-
a theory that flies in the face of logic [=a theory that is not logical at all]
-
a policy that flies in the face of reason [=a policy that is extremely unreasonable]
fly into
[phrasal verb]
fly into (something)
:
to be overcome by (sudden extreme emotion)
-
He flew into a rage. [=he suddenly became very angry]
-
They flew into a panic. [=they suddenly panicked]
fly off the handle
informal
:
to lose control of your emotions
:
to become very angry
-
He tends to fly off the handle when people disagree with him.
fly the coop
informal
:
to leave suddenly or secretly
:
to escape or go away
-
In the morning the suspect had flown the coop.
-
All their children have flown the coop. [=have moved away from home]
let fly
informal or let fly with
:
to throw (something) in a forceful way
— often used figuratively
-
The quarterback let fly (with) a long pass.
-
She let fly (with) a few angry words. [=she shouted a few angry words]
—
compare 2fly
2
fly
/ˈflaɪ/
verb
flies;
flied;
flying
2
fly
/ˈflaɪ/
verb
flies;
flied;
flying
Britannica Dictionary definition of FLY
[no object]
baseball
:
to hit a fly ball
-
The batter flied to left field.
-
He flied out to left field. [=he made an out by hitting a fly ball that was caught by the left fielder]
—
compare 1fly
3
fly
/ˈflaɪ/
noun
plural
flies
3
fly
/ˈflaɪ/
noun
plural
flies
Britannica Dictionary definition of FLY
[count]
1
:
a small insect that has two wings
-
swat a fly
-
the buzz of a fly
2
:
a hook that is designed to look like an insect and that is used for catching fish
—
see also fly-fishing
drop like flies
informal also die like flies
◊ If people or animals are dropping/dying like flies, they are dropping or dying very quickly in large numbers.
-
The heat was so intense that people were dropping like flies. [=many people were fainting from the heat]
-
Horses and cattle dropped/died like flies during the drought.
◊ These phrases are often used figuratively.
-
Candidates were dropping like flies during the early part of the campaign.
fly in the ointment
:
someone or something that causes problems
-
We're almost ready to start work. Getting the permit is the only fly in the ointment.
fly on the wall
:
someone who secretly watches or listens to other people
-
I would like to be a fly on the wall during the negotiations. [=I would like to be able to hear what is being said during the negotiations]
no flies on
chiefly British, informal
◊ If there are no flies on you, you are a smart person who is quick to understand things and not easily fooled.
wouldn't hurt a fly
◊ Someone who wouldn't hurt a fly is too gentle to want to hurt anyone.
-
He looks big and dangerous, but he wouldn't hurt a fly.
—
compare 4fly
4
fly
/ˈflaɪ/
noun
plural
flies
4
fly
/ˈflaɪ/
noun
plural
flies
Britannica Dictionary definition of FLY
[count]
1
:
an opening in a piece of clothing (such as a pair of trousers, shorts, or a skirt) that is hidden by a fold of cloth and that is closed by a zipper or a row of buttons
— sometimes plural in British English
—
see color picture on this page
-
He zipped/buttoned his fly.
-
He zipped his flies.
2
on the fly
1
:
quickly and often without preparation
-
You'll have to make decisions on the fly.
2
:
through the air
:
without hitting the ground
-
The home run went 450 feet on the fly.
3
:
while something else is also being done on a computer
-
software that handles formatting on the fly
—
compare 3fly
