fly

I UK [flaɪ] / US verb
Word forms "fly":
present tense I/you/we/they fly he/she/it flies present participle flying past tense flew UK [fluː] / US [flu] past participle flown UK [fləʊn] / US [floʊn]
***

1) [intransitive] to travel by plane

Sometimes it's cheaper to fly.

fly from/to:

I flew from London to Amsterdam to meet the other members of the group.

fly into:

We flew into Heathrow on Monday evening.

a) [intransitive] if a plane flies, it moves through the air

The bombers were flying over enemy territory.

b) [transitive] to take people or goods somewhere by plane

They flew her home for urgent medical treatment.

fly someone/something in/out:

Helicopters are helping to fly out survivors.

c) [intransitive/transitive] to control a plane when it is in the air

He had always wanted to learn to fly.

My grandfather flew bombers during the war.

a pilot who flew over 100 missions

d) [transitive] to use a particular company or travel in a particular class when you are travelling by plane

I'm flying British Airways this time.

e) [transitive] to go across an area of water or land in a plane

How long does it take to fly the Atlantic?

2) [intransitive] to use wings to move through the air

Not all insects can fly.

fly past/over/up etc:

A huge eagle came flying past.

White gulls flew over our heads.

See:

crow I

3)

a) [intransitive] to move very fast through the air

fly past/by/towards/into:

A bullet flew past his head.

Pieces of glass and concrete were flying in all directions.

b) to move or go very quickly

fly into/along/through/out:

We flew into each other's arms.

Sheila flew along the corridor to the control room.

fly open:

The door flew open and the head teacher marched in.

4) [intransitive] to be blown around in the wind

She stood on the clifftop, her grey hair flying in the wind.

5)

a) [intransitive/transitive] if you fly a flag, or if it flies, it is on the top of a pole or building

Some of the buildings were flying the French flag.

Every American school has a national flag flying outside it.

b) if you fly a kite, or if it flies, you hold it on the end of a long piece of string and it blows about in the wind

perfect weather for flying kites

6) [intransitive] if time flies, it seems to pass very quickly

fly by:

Six months flew by, and it was time to come home again.

fly past:

The weekend with her family seemed to fly past.

7) [intransitive] if ideas or opinions are flying, people are talking about them a lot

The fire was so suspicious that rumours started flying almost immediately.

fly around/about:

There are a lot of wild theories flying around.

8) [intransitive] informal if an idea or a statement flies, people accept or approve of it

It's a great idea, but will it fly?

9) [intransitive/transitive] formal to leave a place suddenly in order to escape from a difficult or dangerous situation

fly the country:

Thousands flew the country when he came to power.

•

fly into a temper/rage — to suddenly become extremely angry

He stopped, turned and flew into a rage, kicking a nearby chair.

(I) must fly — British

informal used for saying that you must leave quickly

I must fly, I'll see you later.

send someone/something flying — informal to make someone or something move quickly through the air by hitting them

Steve came crashing into me and sent me flying.

- fly in the face of something

- flying high

- fly off the handle

- go flying

- let fly

Phrasal verbs:

- fly at

See:

nest I

II UK [flaɪ] / US noun [countable]
Word forms "fly":
singular fly plural flies
**

1) a common small insect with wings. Flies eat food, are often found near rubbish, and are responsible for spreading many diseases

A trapped fly buzzed against the window pane.

a new spray to kill flies and mosquitoes

a swarm/cloud/plague of flies:

There were clouds of small flies over the river.

2) a small hook made to look like an insect, fixed to the end of a fishing line and used for catching fish

3) a flysheet for a tent

4) mainly American the flies on a pair of trousers

•

going down/dropping like flies — informal getting ill or dying in large numbers very quickly

People are dropping like flies with the flu.

(there are) no flies on someone — informal used for saying that someone is not stupid and you cannot trick them easily

someone wouldn't hurt/harm a fly — spoken used for saying that someone is very gentle and would not do anything to hurt or upset anyone

Terry may look tough, but he wouldn't hurt a fly.

- be a fly on the wall

- a fly in the ointment

- on the fly

III UK [flaɪ] / US adjective
Word forms "fly":
adjective fly comparative flyer superlative flyest British informal old-fashioned

clever and not easy to trick