flying fish
1
3.8
- noun
- /ˈflaɪɪŋ fɪʃ/
:
pez volador
- We are ending the food tour with the national dish, which is flying fish and cuckoo, which is like cornmeal with some herbs.
The Coast Guard got suspicious when they realized all the fish were flying fish.
- The Coast Guard got suspicious when they realized all the fish were flying fish.
Examples
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The flying fish jumped out of the ocean, its large fins allowing it to glide effortlessly through the air.
-
Also octopuses and vertebrates developing the same eyes, flying fish and birds evolving nearly identical wings.
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While snorkeling, we were thrilled to see a school of flying fish gliding gracefully above the water's surface.
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As the boat moved through the water, we spotted several flying fish skimming across the waves.
Synonyms
A group of sea fish that glide above the water surface
A sea fish with large side and belly fins that glides above water
A flying fish with large front and back fins that lets it glide far above water
A fish with only its front fins made large so it can glide above the water
A fish with only the front fins enlarged that glides above water
How Far
- Philippine
- Indian
1
7.4
- Indian
- Philippine
1
3.8
Surface Forms
Morphology
The meaning 'a fish that flies or glides above the water' is directly and transparently derived from combining 'flying' (from 'fly', to move through the air) with 'fish' (the animal). This adjective+noun composition is a straightforward, cross-linguistic descriptive pattern, so a B1 learner who knows both constituents will readily infer the MWE's meaning.
Etymology
Flying fish is a name sailors gave to real fish that jump from the sea and glide on winglike fins, so they look as if they are flying. That clear image is why the term refers to a fish that can 'glide above the water' to escape danger.