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Glite Dictionary
to fly open

to fly open

11 3.3
To open suddenly, often because of wind or force
  • phrasal verb
  • /flaɪ ˈoʊpən/
translation icon : abrirse de golpe
  • Before I could finish my sentence, my office door flew open and Stewart McClaren burst inside.
  • door flew open
  • eyes flew open
  • Suddenly, the door flies open

The kitchen door flies open, right?

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Examples

  • All at once, the door flew open and a figure stood silhouetted against the doorway.

    Fiction book (1993)

  • "Yes." The door flew open abruptly, and Dr. Peterson hurried in with an armload of folders.

    Fiction book (1997)

  • Watch the doors fly open.

    Nobody's Fool (1994)

  • The doors of the vehicle fly open as a doctor and nurse emerge.

    Fiction book (1993)

  • The door flies open and sucks him out.

  • Suddenly, the door to the truck flies open and Robert exits.

    Fiction book (1995)

  • John runs to it, and it suddenly flies open with a terrifyingly loud noise.

    Fiction book (1996)

  • A late-model Mercedes squeals into view, the back door flying open as more agents leap out.

    Fiction book (1996)

  • Marianne's bluish-bruised eyelids flew open, as if she hadn't been fully asleep.

    Fiction book (1997)

  • As the storm hit, the windows in the old cabin flew open, letting in the cold wind.

Synonyms

to burst
vsto fly open
164 1.4

Break open suddenly because of pressure inside

is sudden and quick but less violent than an internal rupture
to crack open
vsto fly open
15 2.6

Open something like a bottle or box to get what is inside

is more sudden and faster often caused by pressure rather than prying
to break open
vsto fly open
13 2.1

To open something suddenly by force, for example a locked door or jar

happens suddenly often due to internal pressure rather than external force
to fall open
vsto fly open
4 3.0

To move apart by itself suddenly because of surprise or gravity

is sudden and quick but usually caused by force or pressure
to drop open
vsto fly open
3 3.7

To have the mouth or jaw suddenly fall open because of surprise

is sudden and quick typically from force or pressure not surprise

Antonyms

to close
∞ 1.0

To shut something so it is not open

to seal
457 2.5

To close something tightly to stop air or water getting in

How Quickly

to fly open
11 3.3
to pop
492 2.0
to open
∞ 1.0
to ease
119 2.4

Surface Forms

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

Morphology

fly + open

The meaning 'to open suddenly and quickly' is directly derivable from combining 'fly' (to move very quickly) with 'open' (become or make accessible): the verb conveys rapid motion and the complement names the resulting state. This resultative/compositional pattern is common cross-linguistically and follows a transparent motion + result structure that a B1 learner who knows both words would readily understand.

Etymology

The phrasal verb fly open comes from the image of something that seems to fly (move fast) into the open position, like a door blown by wind that suddenly swings wide. So it means 'open suddenly and quickly'.