transcription, транскрипция: [ flaɪ ]
( flies, flying, flew, flown)
Frequency: The word is one of the 700 most common words in English.
1.
A fly is a small insect with two wings. There are many kinds of flies, and the most common are black in colour.
N-COUNT
2.
When something such as a bird, insect, or aircraft flies , it moves through the air.
The planes flew through the clouds...
The bird flew away.
VERB : V prep / adv , V prep / adv , also V
3.
If you fly somewhere, you travel there in an aircraft.
He flew back to London...
Mr Baker flew in from Moscow.
VERB : V prep / adv , V prep / adv
4.
When someone flies an aircraft, they control its movement in the air.
Parker had successfully flown both aircraft...
He flew a small plane to Cuba...
His inspiration to fly came even before he joined the Army.
VERB : V n , V n prep / adv , V
• fly‧ing
...a flying instructor.
N-UNCOUNT
5.
To fly someone or something somewhere means to take or send them there in an aircraft.
The relief supplies are being flown from a warehouse in Pisa.
VERB : V n adv / prep
6.
If something such as your hair is flying about, it is moving about freely and loosely in the air.
His long, uncovered hair flew back in the wind...
She was running down the stairs, her hair flying.
VERB : V adv / prep , V
7.
If you fly a flag or if it is flying , you display it at the top of a pole.
They flew the flag of the African National Congress...
A flag was flying on the new military HQ.
VERB : V n , V
8.
If you say that someone or something flies in a particular direction, you are emphasizing that they move there with a lot of speed or force.
I flew downstairs...
VERB : V prep / adv [ emphasis ]
9.
The front opening on a pair of trousers is referred to as the fly , or in British English the flies . It usually consists of a zip or row of buttons behind a band of cloth.
N-COUNT
10.
see also flying , tsetse fly
11.
If you say that someone wouldn’t hurt a fly or wouldn’t harm a fly , you are emphasizing that they are very kind and gentle.
...a lovely girl, who would not have harmed a fly.
PHRASE : with brd-neg , V inflects [ emphasis ]
12.
If you let fly , you attack someone, either physically by hitting them, or with words by insulting them.
A simmering row ended with her letting fly with a stream of obscenities.
PHRASE : V inflects
13.
If you send someone or something flying or if they go flying , they move through the air and fall down with a lot of force.
The blow sent the young man flying.
PHRASE : V inflects , PHR after v
14.
If you say that you would like to be a fly on the wall in a situation that does not involve you, you mean that you would like to see or hear what happens in that situation.
What I’d give to be a fly on the wall when Davis finds out what’s happened to his precious cargo.
PHRASE : v-link PHR
see also fly-on-the-wall
15.
as the crow flies: see crow
to fly in the face of: see face
to fly the flag: see flag
to fly off the handle: see handle
a fly in the ointment: see ointment
pigs might fly: see pig
sparks fly: see spark
time flies: see time