(flies, ~ing, flew, flown)
Frequency: The word is one of the 700 most common words in English.
1.
A ~ 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 ~ 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 ~ came even before he joined the Army.
VERB: V n, V n prep/adv, V
~ing
...a ~ing instructor.
N-UNCOUNT
5.
To ~ 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 ~ing 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 ~ing.
VERB: V adv/prep, V
7.
If you ~ a flag or if it is ~ing, you display it at the top of a pole.
They flew the flag of the African National Congress...
A flag was ~ing 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 ~, 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 ~ing , tsetse ~
11.
If you say that someone wouldn’t hurt a ~ or wouldn’t harm a ~, you are emphasizing that they are very kind and gentle.
...a lovely girl, who would not have harmed a ~.
PHRASE: with brd-neg, V inflects emphasis
12.
If you let ~, you attack someone, either physically by hitting them, or with words by insulting them.
A simmering row ended with her letting ~ with a stream of obscenities.
PHRASE: V inflects
13.
If you send someone or something ~ing or if they go ~ing, they move through the air and fall down with a lot of force.
The blow sent the young man ~ing.
PHRASE: V inflects, PHR after v
14.
If you say that you would like to be a ~ 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 ~ on the wall when Davis finds out what’s happened to his precious cargo.
PHRASE: v-link PHR
see also ~-on-the-wall
15.
as the crow flies: see crow
to ~ in the face of: see face
to ~ the flag: see flag
to ~ off the handle: see handle
a ~ in the ointment: see ointment
pigs might ~: see pig
sparks ~: see spark
time flies: see time