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Glite Dictionary
crane fly

crane fly

5.6
A long thin fly with very long legs that looks like a large mosquito but does not bite
  • noun
  • /kreɪn flaɪ/
translation icon : mosca de los pantanos
  • I saw a crane fly resting on the wall, its long legs stretching out behind it.

Examples

  • The crane flies are often mistaken for mosquitoes.

  • A crane fly landed on my window, startling me with its long legs.

  • Despite its appearance, a crane fly does not bite humans or animals.

  • We found several crane flies hovering near the porch light last night.

  • Look at that crane fly on the window!

  • During our hike, we noticed a crane fly hovering near the water's edge.

  • The crane fly is recognizable by its slender body and delicate wings.

Synonyms

daddy longlegs
vscrane fly
  • US
1 3.6

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

is the formal name used for the same insect rather than the nickname
Tipulidae
vscrane fly
  • Specialized
9.9

Large insects with very long legs that look like giant mosquitoes but do not bite

names the specific insect rather than the whole family grouping

How Long-Legged

crane fly
5.6
spider
327 1.0

Surface Forms

crane fly singular
crane flies plural

Morphology

crane + fly

The noun compound 'crane fly' is compositionally transparent: it denotes a fly that resembles a crane (notably long legs/appearance), so a learner who knows 'crane' and 'fly' can infer the basic meaning. This is a straightforward descriptive compound rather than an idiom, making it accessible to a B1 learner.

Etymology

Crane fly may come from the insect's very long, thin legs and body that look a bit like a small crane, the bird. Because it is a flying insect called a fly, the name joins crane and fly to give the image of a long-legged, harmless fly that 'does not bite'.