flying (redirected from gone flying)

*off to a flying start

Fig. having a very successful beginning to something. (*Typically: be ~; get ~.) The new business got off to a flying start with those export orders. We shall need a large donation from the local citizens if the charity is to get off to a flying start.

See also: start

flying high 

1. Fig. very successful in one's ambitions; in an important or powerful position. (Often with the implication that this is not the usual situation or will change.) The government is flying high just now, but wait until the budget is announced. He's flying high these days, but he comes from a very poor family.

2. Fig. in a state of euphoria. (From good news, success, or drugs.) Wow! Todd is really flying high. Did he discover a gold mine? Sally is flying high. What's she on?

See also: high

keep the stork flying and keep the stork busy

Rur. to have lots of children. Sally's pregnant again, with their sixth. They sure do keep the stork flying! Grandma and grandpa kept the stork flying. I've got ten aunts and uncles.

See also: keep, stork

with flying colors

Cliché easily and excellently. John passed his geometry test with flying colors. Sally qualified for the race with flying colors.

See also: color

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be flying high 

1. if a person or a company is flying high, they are very successful The company was flying high as a maker of personal computers.

2. (American informal) to be very excited or happy, often because of the effect of drugs The guy was on drugs - flying high and scaring everyone around him. When the winter Olympics came to Canada, the whole country was flying high.

See also: high

come through/pass with flying colours  (British & Australian) also come through/pass with flying colors (American & Australian)

to pass an examination with a very high score or to complete a difficult activity very successfully She took her university entrance exam in December and passed with flying colours. The officer training was gruelling, but he came through with flying colours.

See also: colour, come, through

get off to a flying start

to begin an activity very successfully Maria got off to a flying start in her new job. With several customers on the books already, Tim's new business had got off to a flying start.

See also: get, start

kite-flying  (British & Australian)

the act of telling people about an idea or plan so that you can find out what they think about it Mr Baker's hint about US intervention in the war was undoubtedly an exercise in kite-flying.

See fly a kite, Go fly a kite!

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flying high

1. doing very well All those companies were flying high at first, and next thing you knew they had all crashed to the ground.

2. to be very excited or happy He just heard that he got the scholarship and is really flying high.

See also: high

off to a flying start

beginning very well This year he's off to a flying start, playing very well and winning his first five games.

See also: start

send somebody/something flying

to cause someone or something to move very quickly An explosion rocked the building, sending him flying into a desk.

See also: send

with flying colors

with great success She took a driving test and passed with flying colors. My brother always managed to get through his courses, although not always with flying colors.

Etymology: based on the small and colorful flags flown (hung in the wind) on boats and ships in a race or when coming into port

See also: color