Fly–Figures of Speech

fly—figures of speech
1. fly (noun)  =

(a)

 

a fold of cloth that covers an opening of a garment (an item of clothing), especially the one in the front of a pair of trousers or knickers worn by men, to pass urine without having to take off the trousers

(b) a flap (a piece of cloth) used as the door of a tent

(c)  a fly ball (a ball hit high in the air) in baseball game

(d)  the length of a flag from the flag pole to the outer edge

(e)  a single horse carriage (hackney) for hire

2. to fly (verb)  =  to go in the air by an aeroplane; to go from a place to another place very quickly

3. to fly at (phrasal verb)  =  to attack unexpectedly

4. on the fly  =  escaping from the police or some danger; in a hurry

5. flyleaf  =  a blank white page at the beginning or end of a printed book

6. fly-blown  = (a)  without money, penniless

(b)  [said of something made unfit for use]

7. a fly on the wall  =

(a)  a person who watches others without being seen (unnoticed observer)

(b)  a style of making (shooting) documentary films

8. a fly on the wheel [said of a person who claims responsibility or credit for what he/she has not done]

9. a fly in amber  =

(a)  something, such as a specimen (= a sample), preserved from long ago by an accident

(b)  a strange, peculiar relic (‘relic’ = an old object which has some important connection with past history that is kept as a souvenir)

10. (a)  as free as a fly

(b)  as light as a fly

11. (a)  not care a fly

(b)  not worth a fly

12. (a)  as thick as flies on a cow’s nose

(b)  like flies after meat =  too many in number (in profusion)

13. a fly in the ointment [said of a very minor point, fact or obstacle that spoils the whole situation; and some annoyance or a disadvantage that prevents complete pleasure]

14. there are no flies on him [said of someone who is very alert and is not easily cheated]

15. (he) takes a spear to kill a fly [said of someone who uses more force than needed to do something]

16. to go down like flies  =  to yield (surrender or give up), or die of an epidemic (a disease), etc. without any resistance

17. a fly has its spleen [said to mean that everyone, even an insignificant or unimportant one, is entitle to his/her feelings]

18. (he) wouldn’t hurt a fly [said of someone who is very kind-hearted]

19. to catch flies  =  to yawn [said of the unnecessary gestures of an actor to distract the attention of the audience from another performer, in stage performance – drama]

20. like a fly in a glue-pot/tart-box  =  nervously excited

21. as gaumless as a fly (‘gaumless’ = stupid)

22. summer flies are seen only in the sunshine [said to mean that when you money you have many friends and relatives]

23. buzzing around like a blue-arsed fly  =  unnecessarily busy

24. as fond of a raw place as bluebottle (‘raw place’ = dirty place; ‘bluebottle’ = bluebottle fly) [said of someone who tries to make profit or get benefit out of others’ helpless condition or others’ troubles]

25. to kill two flies with one flap  =  to complete two tasks or jobs with the same time and effort (in one go)