flies

(My,) how time flies. 

1. Time has gone by quickly, it is time for me to go. Bill: Look at the clock! Mary: How time flies! I guess you'll be going. Bill: Yes, I have to get up early. John: My watch says it's nearly midnight. How time flies! Jane: Yes, it's late. We really must go.

2. Time passes quickly. (Said especially when talking about how children grow and develop.) "Look at how big Billy is getting," said Uncle Michael. "My, how time flies." Tom: It seems it was just yesterday that I graduated from high school. Now I'm a grandfather. Mary: My, how time flies.

See also: how, time

drop like flies

Fig. to faint, sicken, collapse, or die, in great numbers like houseflies dying in a large group. It was a terrible year for the flu. People were dropping like flies.

See also: drop, like

like flies to manure

Rur. eagerly gathering in large numbers. (Has unpleasant connotations because of the reference to manure.) Look at all them folks going to the freak show like flies to manure. The reporters hovered around the movie star like flies to manure.

See also: like

no flies on someone

Fig. someone is not slow; someone is not wasting time. (On the image of flies not being able to land on someone moving fast.) Of course I work fast. I go as fast as I can. There are no flies on me. There are no flies on Robert. He does his work very fast and very well.

There's no flies on someone

. Rur. Someone is full of energy and drive. There's no flies on Jane. She's up at five every morning, training for the big race.

time flies (when you're having fun)

Fig. time passes very quickly. (From the Latin tempus fugit.) I didn't really think it was so late when the party ended. Doesn't time fly? Time simply flew while the old friends exchanged news.

See also: time

When poverty comes in at the door, love flies out of the window. and When the wolf comes in at the door, love creeps out of the window.

Prov. If a couple gets married because they are in love, but they do not have enough money, they will stop loving each other when the money runs out. You young folks may think you can live on love alone, but when poverty comes in at the door, love flies out of the window. After Susan lost her job, she and her unemployed husband had a big argument. When the wolf comes in at the door, love creeps out of the window.

See also: come, love, out, poverty, window

You can catch more flies with honey than with vinegar.

Prov. It is easier to get what you want by flattering people and being polite to them than by making demands. Jill: This meal is terrible. Let's get the restaurant manager over here and make a scene unless he gives us our money back. Jane: We might have more luck if we ask politely. You can catch more flies with honey than with vinegar.

See also: can, catch, honey, more, vinegar

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as the crow flies

if the distance between two places is measured as the crow flies, it is measured as a straight line between the two places 'How far is it from Cambridge to London?' 'About 50 miles as the crow flies.' Our farm is only five miles from town as the crow flies, but the winding roads mean we have to drive nearly eight miles to get there.

See eat humble pie

See also: crow

be dropping like flies

if people are dropping like flies, large numbers of them are dying or becoming ill or injured within a short period of time The heat was overwhelming and people were dropping like flies.

See also: dropping, like

If it looks like a duck and walks/quack/flies etc. like a duck, it is a duck.  (humorous)

used to say that something is probably exactly what it seems to be and we should trust our judgment about it They're calling it a clinic, not a prison, but if it looks like a duck and swims like a duck, then it is a duck, I think.

See also: and, duck, if, like, look, walk

the fur flies

if the fur flies, people have a bad argument The fur was really flying during that meeting.

See also: fur

There are no flies on somebody.

something that you say which means that someone is intelligent and able to think quickly The minute she heard the business was for sale she was on the phone making an offer. There are no flies on her.

Time flies when you're having fun.

something that you say which means that time passes quickly when you are enjoying yourself

Usage notes: Often used humorously when you are talking about an activity which was not enjoyable.

'I can't believe we've spent four hours cleaning this carpet.' 'Well, time flies when you're having fun.'

See also: fun, have, time

Time flies.  also How time flies!

something that you say which means that time passes very quickly, often so quickly that you are surprised I can't believe your son is at university already. How time flies! I never seem to manage to finish my work. The time just flies.

See also: time

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as the crow flies

measured in a straight line It's only about 100 miles as the crow flies to great ski country.

See also: crow

time flies (spoken)

a certain period has passed surprisingly quickly I can't believe your daughter is old enough to be in college already! How time flies!

Etymology: based on the saying time flies when you are having fun

See also: time