fly (redirected from died like flies)

the feathers fly (American)

if the feathers fly, people fight or argue a lot. The feathers'll fly if he finds out you've borrowed his car.

See also: feather

fly blind

to try to do something new without any help or instructions. We've never dealt with Eastern Europe before, so we're flying blind. (usually in continuous tenses)

See also: blind

fly by the seat of your pants (informal)

to do something difficult without the necessary experience or ability. None of us had ever worked on a magazine before so we were flying by the seat of our pants. (often in continuous tenses)

See also: pant, seat

fly in the face of something (slightly formal)

to be the opposite of what is usual or accepted. These recommendations fly in the face of previous advice on safe limits for alcohol consumption.

See also: face

a fly in the ointment

someone or something that spoils a situation which could have been successful or pleasant. The only fly in the ointment was my mother, who insisted on whispering through the first half of the show.

fly off the handle (informal)

to react in a very angry way to something someone says or does. He really flew off the handle when I suggested selling the house.

See also: handle

a fly on the wall

if you say you would like to be a fly on the wall in a certain situation, you mean that you would like to be there secretly to see and hear what happens. I'd give anything to be a fly on the wall when she tells him.

See also: wall

fly the coop (mainly American)

to leave somewhere, especially to leave your home for the first time in order to live away from the family. The last of our kids has finally flown the coop so we have the whole house to ourselves.

fly-by-night

a fly-by-night person or organization cannot be trusted because they have not been established long, and could leave or close at any time. They've opened one of those cheap and nasty fly-by-night stores on the High Street. (always before noun) I'm serious about representing my constituents. I'm not a fly-by-night politician.

fly-on-the-wall

a fly-on-the-wall film or television programme is one where the people involved forget or do not know that they are being filmed. The five-part fly-on-the-wall documentary series focusses on the lives of three student nurses. (always before noun)

fly/leave the nest

to leave your parents' home for the first time in order to live somewhere else. Once the kids have all flown the nest we might sell this house and move somewhere smaller.

See also: leave, nest

fly/show/wave the flag

to support or to represent your country. In the absence of any other Italian film directors, Mr Infascelli bravely flew the flag for his country. (often + for)

See also: flag, show, wave

Go fly a kite! (mainly American, informal)

something that you say in order to tell someone who is annoying you to go away. Go fly a kite! It's just not funny any more.

See also: kite

It'll never fly. (American)

something that you say when you think an idea will not be successful. He sent me a movie script but it'll never fly - it's just too unbelievable.

See also: it'll, never

let fly (something)

to start shouting angrily. I was so angry I let fly at them as soon as they came in. (sometimes + at) Gripping the arms of his chair, he let fly a barrage of offensive comments.

See also: let

on the fly (American)

if someone does something on the fly, they do it quickly and without thinking carefully before they do it. She was the sort of person who would make decisions on the fly rather than allowing herself time to think.

Pigs might fly. (British, American & Australian, informal, American, informal)

something that you say which means you think there is no chance at all of something happening. 'I'll pay you back on Friday, I promise.' 'Yeah, and pigs might fly.'

See also: might

[run around/rush around etc.] like a blue-arsed fly (British & Australian, informal)

to move around quickly trying to finish your work when you are very busy. I've been running around like a blue-arsed fly trying to get everything organized before I go on holiday.

See also: around, like, run, rush

set the fur flying

to cause a bad argument. She set the fur flying by demanding to see the letters.

See also: flying, fur, set

sparks fly

if sparks fly between two or more people, they argue angrily. They don't have the easiest of relationships and when they get together in a meeting sparks fly.

wouldn't harm/hurt a fly

if you say that someone wouldn't hurt a fly, you mean that they are a gentle person and that they would not do anything to injure or upset anyone. Damian just isn't the violent type. He wouldn't hurt a fly.

See also: harm, hurt, wouldn't

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fly by the seat of your pants

to do something difficult without the necessary experience or ability. None of us had ever worked on a magazine before so we were flying by the seat of our pants.

See also: pant, seat

fly in the face of something

to be the opposite of what is usual or accepted. His decision to start his own business certainly flies in the face of good judgment.

See also: face

a fly in the ointment

someone or something that spoils a good situation. What remains a fly in the ointment is the fact that the UN has not approved the peace plan.

Etymology: from a Bible story which explains that dead flies spoil ointment (= medicine spread on the skin)

fly into a rage

fly off the handle

See also: rage

fly off the handle

to get very angry. When we make mistakes, he brings it to our attention, but he doesn't fly off the handle like he used to.

See also: handle

a fly on the wall

someone who can secretly see and hear what happens. I would love to be a fly on the wall at that meeting.

See also: wall

let fly (with) something

1. to throw something or shoot something from a weapon. Police officers let fly canisters of tear gas. The guy in the leather jacket was leaping over the counter when I let fly with a soda bottle.

2. to express yourself in a way that will excite or anger others. If you disagree with the officials, it's bad form to let fly with four-letter words. When she got together with her friends, they would let fly all their innermost secrets.

Etymology: based on the idea of shooting an arrow

See also: let

not hurt a fly

not injure or upset anyone or anything. She said the arrest was a mistake, that her husband wouldn't hurt a fly.

Usage notes: also used in the forms can't hurt a fly, couldn't hurt a fly, and would never hurt a fly: He was so gentle he would never hurt a fly.

See also: hurt

on the fly

in a hurry. You can't make this dinner on the fly, you need a whole day.

wing it

sparks fly

there is an angry argument. Neither actor liked the other, so when they co-starred as lovers in a new movie, sparks flew.

something will never fly

something will not succeed. People told him it was a great story, but it would never fly as a movie.

See also: never