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to fly

to fly

312 1.8
Pass very quickly, often used for time
  • verb
  • /flaɪ/
: pasar volando
  • When these two go at it, ratings fly on cable news.
  • fly into a rage
  • fly away
  • sparks fly

Throughout the day, calculations flew back and forth between scientists.

Examples

  • And the years simply flew by.

  • Imagine the words flying out of one's mouth and into the ears of the listeners.

    Academic text (2011)
  • Wanna fly under the radar, this is how you fly.

  • And the next weeks seemed to fly by before they left for Christmas vacation.

    Fiction book (1990)
  • Special attention should be paid to musicians flying for the first time.

    Academic text (2001)
  • Time sure does fly, doesn't it?

  • Throughout the day, calculations flew back and forth between scientists.

  • If you're telling the truth, then you'll fly through this test.

  • My dad drank as well and he'd fly off the handle.

  • If you practice hard, you will fly through the exam with ease.

Synonyms

to run
vsto fly
∞ 1.0

To move a boat fast in the same direction as the wind

adds the broader sense of quick happening or change
to run away
vsto fly
907 1.6

To leave secretly and quickly to get away from danger or control

can mean any sudden rapid movement, not only secret flight
to rush
vsto fly
637 1.0

To move or act quickly because a situation needs it

can mean escaping as well as simply moving very fast
to flee
vsto fly
583 2.4

To run away from a place because it is dangerous

also covers quick change or movement not only escape
to take off
vsto fly
549 3.2

To leave a place quickly, often to travel somewhere else

is not limited to leaving but to quick events or movement
to run off
vsto fly
  • Informal
353 3.7

To leave a place or person suddenly, often without saying goodbye

also applies to fast change or occurrence beyond leaving
to shoot
vsto fly
228 1.6

To move very quickly in one direction

is similar but also stresses escaping or running away sometimes
to dash
vsto fly
67 1.0

To move very quickly to reach a place

also includes leaving to escape, not only rapid motion
to spring
vsto fly
27 1.0

To move suddenly by jumping, leaping, or bouncing

is more general, covering fast movement or sudden events
to take flight
vsto fly
23 3.5

Leave quickly to escape danger, often by flying

is broader, applying to fast happenings as well as fleeing
to flash
vsto fly
20 2.2

To move very quickly for a short time

is broader, including running away or rapid change
to hightail
vsto fly
  • Informal
18 8.3

To leave a place very quickly to escape danger or trouble

includes fast action more widely, not only retreating
to hightail it
vsto fly
  • Informal
17 8.4

To leave a place quickly to avoid trouble or danger

covers both quick leaving and fast nonescape actions
to rush away
vsto fly
4 2.5

Leave a place quickly because you are in a hurry

adds that it can mean sudden happenings, not only leaving
to fly the coop
vsto fly
  • Informal
4 7.9

To leave a place suddenly without permission

is more general, meaning any very quick movement or escape
flit
vsto fly
1 7.4

A sudden quick movement like a bird or insect passing

is less focused on tiny quick motions and more on speed
to do the dash
vsto fly
  • UK
1 9.3

To run away quickly to avoid being caught

is broader, also meaning sudden quick change or movement
to zoop
vsto fly
  • Informal
9.9

To move very quickly with a lot of energy, often to go somewhere

can also mean escaping rather than only energetic travel

Antonyms

456 1.0

To move forward slowly on hands and knees or with the body close to the ground

215 3.7

To stay in a place longer than expected because you do not want to leave

Idioms

on the fly
  • Informal
25 5.3

Quickly while you do something, without planning

Openly oppose something, often against common sense or tradition

A person who watches a situation without being noticed

to hurt a fly
  • Informal
8 5.1

Be so gentle that you do not harm even a fly

8 6.8

To suddenly become very angry

6 5.9

To avoid being noticed by other people

Start to behave properly and follow rules

4 6.9

A small problem that spoils an otherwise good situation

to fly the coop
  • Informal
4 7.9

To leave a place suddenly without permission

Show your true self to others, even if it seems strange

on the fly
  • Specialized
1 4.6

Created while a computer program runs, not prepared before

To make quick decisions without a plan

the feathers fly
  • Informal
1 9.8

A situation where people argue angrily and things become chaotic

1 9.9

A small problem that spoils a good situation

pigs might fly
  • Informal
1 9.8

A phrase people say to show something is very unlikely to happen

1 8.6

To openly go against usual rules or advice

Says an angry argument is likely to happen

Phrasal Verbs

11 3.3

To seem to pass very quickly, especially time

10 5.8

Send something suddenly and forcefully, like a rock or angry words

to fly off
  • Informal
8 5.3

To suddenly get very angry without warning

8 3.1

To move through the air above a place, for example a plane or bird

to fly solo
  • Informal
7 4.8

To act or work alone without help from others

7 2.2

To move past something while in the air

4 3.3

To open suddenly, often because of wind or force

To show support for a country, group or cause by displaying its flag

to fly high
  • Informal
3 3.8

To feel very happy and successful after a big achievement

To sell very quickly because many people want it

to test-fly
  • Specialized
1 7.7

To fly a new aircraft to check how it works and how safe it is

Someone does not understand an idea because it is too hard for them

1 2.3

To continue moving through the air like a bird or plane

to fly blind
  • Specialized
1 7.3

To control a plane only by using instruments in the cockpit

to fly blind
  • Informal
1 7.7

To make decisions without enough information

1 8.9

To suddenly start talking about a different subject

7.4

People suddenly fight or shout at each other with strong anger

To face a problem directly and try to solve it

to fly contact
  • Specialized
9.6

To pilot an airplane by looking at places on the ground rather than instruments

Begin something very quickly and with a lot of energy

Compounds

21 2.6

A small flying insect whose young eat and spoil ripe or rotten fruit

18 3.7

To fish with a rod and line using small fake flies as bait

fly ball
  • Specialized
15 3.1

A ball hit high into the air in baseball

fly-by-night
  • Offensive
9 8.9

Not reliable and likely to disappear quickly, often for dishonest reasons

4 9.7

A small bright green beetle from southern Europe that makes a liquid causing blisters

sacrifice fly
  • Jargon
4 6.7

A caught fly ball that lets a player on base score while it puts the batter out

fly-by
  • US
4 7.5

A low flight by military planes over people watching on the ground

fly rod
  • Specialized
4 4.6

A long, flexible fishing rod used to cast light flies for fishing

pop fly
  • Jargon
3 5.8

A high ball hit in baseball or softball that is easy to catch

tsetse fly
  • South African
3 8.7

A large African fly that bites people and animals and causes sleeping sickness

2 6.6

A small dark insect that bites people and animals and makes itchy red spots

1 6.6

A small insect that bites people in warm places and can spread disease

1 7.2

A large fly with a shiny blue-green body that lays eggs on dead animals and in wounds

1 8.6

A small insect near water whose young are used for fishing bait

dry fly
  • Specialized
1 6.7

A small fake insect that floats on the water to attract fish

fly casting
  • Specialized
1 5.2

The use of a special rod and line to throw a small fake fly into water to catch fish

fly ash
  • Specialized
1 6.7

Fine light dust that rises when fuel burns, often in power plants

1 3.7

A large fast insect whose female bites animals for blood

Hessian fly
  • Specialized
1 9.9

A small fly whose young eat and damage wheat and other cereal crops

1 9.9

A poisonous mushroom with a bright red cap covered in white dots that grows in forests

flesh fly
  • Specialized
1 9.5

A fly whose young eat the flesh of dead or living animals

A small black and white fly whose young eat the inside of fruit

fly gallery
  • Specialized
1 9.9

A narrow high platform at the side of a stage where crew work with ropes and equipment

1 5.1

A small fly near water that bites people and animals painfully

1 1.6

A small common fly that lives in houses and can spread disease

bar fly
  • Slang
1 8.1

A person who spends a lot of time drinking at bars

stone fly
  • Specialized
1 8.9

A winged insect that lives near streams and whose young live under stones in water

1 7.3

A small delicate insect with thin net-like wings whose young eat garden pests like aphids

1 8.8

A small insect with wings like a moth whose larvae live in water and build cases from sand and plants

1 5.6

A long thin fly with very long legs that looks like a large mosquito but does not bite

pop-fly
  • Jargon
1 5.7

A ball hit high into the air near home plate that is easy to catch

shoo fly
  • Specialized
1 9.9

A South American herb with blue and white flowers and a papery round fruit

wet fly
  • Specialized
1 7.4

An artificial bait that sinks and moves below the water to attract fish

streamer fly
  • Jargon
1 8.9

A fishing lure with long wings that extend past the hook to look like a small fish

1 9.8

An insect that eats insects, with a long beak and antennae, whose males have a curved tail like a scorpion

warble fly
  • Specialized
1 9.9

A hairy fly like a bee whose young insects make lumps under the skin of cows

1 8.7

A hairy fly that looks like a bee and whose young eat baby bees

1 7.0

An opening in a skirt or trousers with a hidden zipper

robber fly
  • Specialized
1 9.6

A large fast fly that catches other insects in the air and drinks their juices

1 8.4

A small fly that lays eggs on rotting fruit or open jars of sweet food

fly-by-night
  • Offensive
1 8.6

A person or business that disappears to avoid paying debts

1 9.9

A pale green fly that gives off a bad smell and whose young eat insects that harm plants

1 6.5

A tent with an extra cover at the front that protects from rain and sun

horn fly
  • Specialized
1 9.8

A small black fly that sucks blood from cows near their horns

fly bridge
  • Specialized
1 8.3

A small open deck above the ship's control room for steering and a better view

1 9.5

A small flying insect whose young are used as bait for fish

fly poison
  • Specialized
1 9.9

A poisonous plant with bulbs that people once used to kill flies

deer fly
  • Jargon
1 6.1

A small fake insect tied to a fishing line to attract fish

louse fly
  • Specialized
1 9.9

A small insect that sucks blood and lives in feathers or fur

1 9.4

A winged insect like a dragonfly whose young dig small cone-shaped pits in sand to trap ants and other insects

A small insect like a moth whose young live in water and build protective cases from stones and plants

A small moth-like insect whose young live in water and build cases from pebbles and plants

A small moth-like insect whose young live in water and build cases from sand and plants

chalcid fly
  • Specialized
9.9

A very small wasp that lays eggs in other insects' eggs or young and helps control pests

chalcis fly
  • Specialized
9.9

A small wasp that lays eggs inside other insects so its young eat them

deer fly fever
  • Specialized
9.9

A fever people can catch from ticks, flies, or touching infected wild animals like rabbits

dobson fly
  • Specialized
9.9

Large insect with a soft body and long jaws whose young live in water and are used as fishing bait

9.9

A dark insect whose young live in water and eat other small animals

7.9

A North American bush with pale yellow flowers and berries eaten by birds

A small shrub with pairs of yellowish-white flowers and bright red berries often grown in gardens

A North American bush that loses its leaves in winter and has upright stems and pale yellow flowers

fly floor
  • Specialized
9.9

A narrow high platform at the side of a stage where crew use ropes to move scenery above it

fly frame
  • Archaic
9.4

A machine in a textile mill that twists stretched fibres into loose thread

9.8

A small plant in Europe with flowers that look like flies

fly press
  • Specialized
8.4

A machine that uses a heavy wheel and a screw to push and shape metal

6.8

A flap of cloth over a tent entrance that keeps out rain and insects

A large tropical insect with bright colors and a long nose once thought to glow

A large tropical insect with bright colors and a long snout, once thought to give light

long fly
  • Archaic
9.3

A long jump from a vaulting horse in gymnastics

A small green insect with thin wings and shiny gold eyes that eats garden pests

A small shiny green fly often found near garbage or dead meat

harvest fly
  • Archaic
8.1

A loud insect that sings in summer, often in July and August

hanging fly
  • Specialized
9.9

A slender insect with long legs that hangs from plants to catch other small insects

How Fast

to fly
312 1.8
to flee
583 2.4
to bolt
78 2.3
to run
∞ 1.0
to walk
∞ 1.0

Surface Forms

fly infinitive
flying present participle
flies third person singular
flew past
flown past participle

Etymology

Fly meaning 'move or happen quickly' comes from the image of birds or objects moving fast through the air, so time or events 'fly' because they seem to pass very fast.