I. fling 1 /flɪŋ/ BrE AmE verb ( past tense and past participle flung /flʌŋ/) [transitive always + adverb/preposition]
[ Date: 1200-1300 ; Origin: From a Scandinavian language ]
1 . THROW SOMETHING to throw something somewhere using a lot of force
fling something into something
He flung the box into the river.
People cheered and flung their hats into the air.
2 . MOVE SOMETHING to throw or move something roughly and carelessly:
He flung his coat over the back of a chair.
She flung back the covers and got up.
He flung the books aside angrily.
3 . PUSH SOMEBODY to push someone roughly, especially so that they fall to the ground SYN throw :
He grabbed her arm and flung her to the ground.
4 . MOVE YOUR BODY to move yourself or part of your body quickly, using a lot of force SYN throw :
He flung himself down on the bed.
She flung her arms round Louise.
5 . SAY SOMETHING to say something to someone in an angry way SYN throw
fling something at somebody
People were flinging all sorts of accusations at her.
His own words were flung back at him.
6 . fling something open to open a door or window roughly, using a lot of force:
The door was flung open and Selkirk entered.
7 . fling somebody in/into prison/jail to put someone in prison, often without having a good reason:
Opposition leaders were flung into jail.
8 . fling yourself into something to start doing something with a lot of energy:
After the divorce he flung himself into his work to forget her.
9 . fling yourself at somebody
a) to move suddenly towards someone in order to attack them or hold them:
He flung himself at her and snatched the bag.
The children flung themselves at him, squealing with joy.
b) informal to show in a very clear open way that you want to have a sexual relationship with someone – used to show disapproval
fling something ↔ off phrasal verb
to quickly remove a piece of clothing SYN tear off :
He flung off his coat.
fling somebody/something ↔ out phrasal verb British English informal
1 . to make someone leave a place when they do not want to SYN throw somebody/something out
fling somebody/something ↔ out of
He was flung out of school for swearing at a teacher.
2 . to get rid of something you no longer want or need SYN throw something out :
If it doesn’t work, just fling it out.
• • •
THESAURUS
▪ throw to make something such as a ball or stone move quickly through the air using your hand:
I threw the ball back to him.
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Protestors began throwing stones at the police.
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I just threw the letter in the bin.
▪ toss ( also chuck ) informal to throw something, especially in a careless way without using much effort:
She tossed her coat onto the bed.
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Can you chuck me the remote control?
▪ hurl to throw something with a lot of force:
Someone hurled a brick through his window.
▪ fling to angrily throw something somewhere with a lot of force, or to carelessly throw something somewhere because you have very little time:
He flung her keys into the river.
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I flung a few things into a suitcase.
▪ heave /hiːv/ to throw something heavy using a lot of effort:
They heaved the log into the river.
▪ lob to throw something high into the air over someone or something:
The police lobbed tear gas canisters over the heads of the demonstrators.
II. fling 2 BrE AmE noun [countable usually singular]
1 . a short and not very serious sexual relationship:
They had a brief fling a few years ago.
2 . a short period of time during which you enjoy yourself without worrying about anything:
He sees this as his final fling before he retires.
• • •
THESAURUS
▪ relationship when two people spend time together or live together because they are romantically or sexually attracted to each other:
After her marriage broke up, she had a series of disastrous relationships.
| relationship with :
I don’t want to start a relationship with her, because I’m going back to South Africa.
| relationship between :
Relationships between people of different cultures are often extremely difficult.
| be in a relationship :
Why are all the interesting men I meet already in relationships?
| sexual relationship :
Several of the psychiatrists admitted to having sexual relationships with patients.
| romantic relationship :
Even at 35, Bobby seemed unable to commit to a romantic relationship.
▪ affair a secret sexual relationship between two people, when one or both of them is married to someone else:
The affair had been going on for years before her husband found out.
| affair with :
I had no idea that Mike had an affair with Carolyn!
| love affair :
Burton had been involved in a love affair with a woman who ended up taking most of his money.
▪ fling a short and not very serious relationship:
Yes, I did go out with him, but it was just a fling.
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She wasn’t interested in anything more than a casual fling.
| fling with :
She left her husband after she learned about his fling with an exotic dancer.
| have a fling :
They had a fling years ago.
▪ romance an exciting and often short relationship between two people who feel very much in love with each other:
It was a beautiful summer romance, but they knew it couldn’t last.
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Richard and Penny had made no great secret of their romance, even though they were both married.
| romance with :
My romance with Lois did not survive our high school graduation.