fly
fly
Pronunciation
The IPA phonetic spelling for "fly" is /flaɪ/.
fly: /flaɪ/
Word Form Variations
Noun: fly (singular), flies (plural)
Verb: fly (base form), flies (third-person singular present), flying (present participle), flew (past tense), flown (past participle)
Adjective: fly (less common, usually informal)
Definitions, Synonyms and Antonyms
Noun
Definition 1: A common small insect belonging to the order Diptera, typically having two wings and often regarded as a pest.
Synonyms: insect, gnat, midge (for smaller types), pest (in the context of being bothersome)
Antonyms: (No direct antonyms as it's a specific type of creature)
Definition 2: (In baseball) A batted ball that is hit high in the air, usually caught by an outfielder.
Synonyms: pop-up, deep ball
Antonyms: grounder, line drive
Definition 3: The front closure on a pair of trousers or shorts, typically secured with a zipper or buttons.
Synonyms: zipper, button closure, fastening
Antonyms: (No direct antonyms)
Verb
Definition 1: (Intransitive) To move through the air using wings, or to be transported through the air in an aircraft.
Synonyms: soar, glide, hover, travel (by air), pilot (an aircraft)
Antonyms: walk, crawl, stand, land (when referring to an aircraft settling)
Definition 2: (Transitive) To operate or pilot an aircraft.
Synonyms: pilot, navigate, operate, command
Antonyms: (No direct antonyms for this specific action)
Definition 3: (Intransitive) To move or travel very quickly.
Synonyms: rush, speed, dart, race, zoom
Antonyms: crawl, dawdle, linger, plod
Definition 4: (Intransitive) To pass or elapse quickly (referring to time).
Synonyms: pass, elapse, rush by, speed by
Antonyms: drag, linger, crawl
Definition 5: (Transitive, informal) To display or show a flag or banner.
Synonyms: display, hoist, unfurl, wave
Antonyms: lower, furl, take down
Adjective
Definition 1: (Informal, often slang) Stylish, fashionable, or excellent.
Synonyms: cool, trendy, fashionable, excellent, slick, hip (dated)
Antonyms: unfashionable, uncool, lame, dowdy, ordinary
Examples of Use
Books:
"He watched the single fly buzz lazily around the lamp, a tiny drone in the vast silence." (From a work of fiction, e.g., Lord of the Flies by William Golding, exploring the symbolism of the insect)
"The pilot decided it was too risky to fly in such turbulent weather, opting instead to delay the departure." (From a non-fiction book about aviation, e.g., Sully: My Search for What Really Matters by Chesley Sullenberger)
"Time, as they say, tends to fly when you're having fun, and this vacation was no exception." (From a memoir or travelogue)
Newspapers:
"A rare species of fruit fly has been discovered in the Amazon rainforest, prompting new research into its ecological role." (From a science section of The New York Times or The Guardian)
"The airline announced a new direct route to Tokyo, making it easier for business travelers to fly to Japan." (From the business section of The Wall Street Journal or Financial Times)
"Local authorities are urging residents to keep their homes tidy to prevent a surge in house flies during the summer months." (From a community news section of a local newspaper)
Online Publications:
"The fashion blogger described her new outfit as 'super fly,' praising its unique blend of vintage and modern styles." (From a fashion blog like Man Repeller or Who What Wear)
"Learn how to fly a drone safely with our comprehensive beginner's guide." (From a technology review website like Wired or TechCrunch)
"Is it possible for humans to truly fly without mechanical assistance? Scientists explore the physics." (From a science popularization website like Live Science or Phys.org)
Various Entertainment Mediums and Platforms:
Film: (Dialogue) "I can't believe I get to fly this plane! This is amazing!" (From an action or adventure movie like Top Gun or Planes)
Television: (News Reporter) "Reports indicate that the protest banner continues to fly proudly above the city square, despite attempts to remove it." (From a news broadcast on CNN or BBC)
Music: (Lyrics) "I believe I can fly, I believe I can touch the sky." (From the song "I Believe I Can Fly" by R. Kelly)
Video Games: (Gameplay Instruction) "Press 'A' to make your character fly over obstacles." (From a platformer or adventure game)
Social Media (e.g., X/Twitter): "Just landed after a long fly from London. Time for some rest! #travel #jetlag" (A personal post by a user)
Podcast: (Host) "Our guest today will be discussing how startups can fly high even in a competitive market." (From a business or entrepreneurship podcast)
General Public Discourse:
"Did you see that amazing fly ball the center fielder caught? It was a game-changer!" (Conversation among baseball fans)
"My computer just crashed, and I lost all my work. Time really does fly when you're productive until an unexpected technical issue hits." (Everyday conversation about a common experience)
"This new pair of sneakers is so fly! I love the design." (Casual conversation among friends about fashion)
"I need to close that door; there's a fly buzzing around the kitchen." (Common household comment)
10 Famous Quotes Using Fly
"I believe I can fly, I believe I can touch the sky." (R. Kelly, "I Believe I Can Fly")
"Time flies over us, but leaves its shadow behind." (Nathaniel Hawthorne, The Marble Faun)
"The early bird catches the worm." (Proverb, implying quick action or to "fly" to an opportunity)
"They are trying to stop the spread of freedom across the world, but it will fly." (George W. Bush, speaking about democracy)
"A bird in the hand is worth two in the bush." (Proverb, implying the risk of letting something "fly" away for something uncertain)
"If you want to fly, give up everything that weighs you down." (Toni Morrison, often attributed)
"Where there is no vision, the people perish." (Proverbs 29:18, often metaphorically linked to a lack of direction or ability to "fly" forward)
"Even a worm can turn." (Proverb, suggesting even the weakest can become strong and "fly" at their oppressor if pushed too far)
"The higher we soar, the smaller we appear to those who cannot fly." (Friedrich Nietzsche, Thus Spoke Zarathustra)
"And he's hit a long fly ball... way back... gone!" (Often heard in baseball commentary, e.g., Vin Scully, describing a home run)
Etymology
The word "fly" has a fascinating history, with its origins stretching back thousands of years!
Imagine our very distant ancestors speaking an ancient language called Proto-Indo-European. In this language, there was a root sound, something like "*pleu-", which meant to "flow" or "float," and also had a connection to "flying."
Over time, this root evolved as different languages developed. In the group of languages that became Germanic (which English belongs to), this root turned into words like "*fleugan" (for the action of flying) and "*fleugon" (for a flying insect).
So, in Old English (the earliest form of English, spoken before about 1150 AD), we see both the verb and the noun emerge:
As a verb, "fly" came from the Old English word "fleogan," meaning "to soar through the air, to take flight." This is its very first known use and meaning – the action of moving through the air with wings.
As a noun, "fly" came from the Old English word "fleoge," referring to a "winged insect." This makes a lot of sense, as the insect is literally "the flying one."
It's interesting to note that in Old English, the verb "to fly" (meaning to move through the air) and "to flee" (meaning to run away) were quite similar and sometimes confused. Over time, English started to distinguish them more clearly, especially in the past tense (we say "flew" for flying and "fled" for fleeing).
So, in essence, the word "fly" for both the action and the insect has been around in English since its very earliest days, both stemming from ancient words that referred to the act of moving through the air.
Phrases + Idioms Containing Fly
As the crow flies: In a straight line; the shortest distance.
Time flies: Time passes very quickly.
A fly in the ointment: A small, irritating flaw that spoils an otherwise good situation.
To fly off the handle: To suddenly lose one's temper.
To fly by the seat of one's pants: To do something by instinct and without a plan or prior experience.
To fly a kite: (Literal) To operate a kite; (Figurative, less common) To try out an idea to see how it is received.
To fly in the face of (something): To be in direct opposition to something; to defy.
To go down like a lead balloon: (While not using "fly," this idiom describes something that fails to "fly" or succeed) To be received very poorly; to be a total failure.
To make the fur fly: To cause an angry argument or fight.
To fly high: To be very successful or in high spirits.
To fly solo: To do something alone, without assistance.
To fly the coop: To leave home or a place, especially suddenly.
On the fly: While in motion or without stopping; spontaneously.
Fly on the wall: An unobserved observer.
Couldn't fly straight: (Informal) Unable to behave properly, often due to intoxication.
To come with bells on: (Similar to "fly high" in spirit) To arrive enthusiastically and ready for a good time.
Vocabulary-Based Stories from SEA
Source Information
Definition of fly from The Academic Glossary at Self Exploration Academy, a Urikville Press Publication. © All rights reserved.
