to let fly - Glite Dictionary

Examples

Then he let fly with that rock.

In the Valley of Elah (2007)
The driver and conductor of the tram let fly a tirade of insults.

Fiction book (1992)
You want me to let fly?

The Gods Must Be Crazy (1980)
Just as Rucker and the girl reached the door, the boys behind the sign let fly.

Fiction book (1993)
An instant later, Batman lets fly with the Batarang.

Fiction book (1992)
Parents of both genders began to let fly with the most ringing pro-labor sentiments heard in these parts since the McGovern days.

Fiction book (1995)
Zavala drew a deep breath and, in the loudest voice he could muster, let fly a string of insults that called the character of the listeners' families into question.

Fiction book (1999)
The boy let fly his paper airplane, and it soared high into the sky.
As the argument intensified, she let fly a barrage of harsh words.

Synonyms

to throw

vsto let fly

∞ 1.0

To send something through the air by a quick movement of the arm

focuses more on sudden force or strong spoken expressions rather than only motion

to shoot

vsto let fly

351 1.6

To move very quickly in one direction

adds the idea of strong force or sudden words, not only quickness

to hurl

vsto let fly

53 3.6

To throw something very hard

includes that action but also covers sudden force used for words

to blast

vsto let fly

45 3.5

To hit or shoot something with great force

is broader, applying to sudden force used for objects or words

to sling

vsto let fly

41 3.9

To throw something with force or without care

is usually more sudden and can also mean forceful words

to catapult

vsto let fly

28 5.1

To throw or send something suddenly with great force

covers sudden strong acts both physical and verbal rather than only machines

to pump

vsto let fly

17 6.8

Shoot bullets quickly one after another

is not limited to repeated firing and also covers sudden speech

to let loose

vsto let fly

6 3.9

Make a sudden loud sound, like a shout or laugh

is stronger on force and can apply to both objects and words

to loft

vsto let fly

5 4.8

To hit or throw something high into the air

focuses more on sudden force or strong utterances rather than height

to hurtle

vsto let fly

5 7.0

To throw something with great force and speed

is similar but also applies to sudden strong words as well

to shoot off

vsto let fly

Informal

3 4.1

To send a message quickly without much thought

stresses sudden force or strength, not only speed or haste

to volley

vsto let fly

1 6.3

To fire many shots quickly or say many words quickly

can be single sudden acts as well as rapid series of items

to let drive

vsto let fly

Archaic

8.2

To shoot something from a gun or bow

is more general, applying to sudden forceful acts beyond weapons

to loose off

vsto let fly

Informal

8.2

To fire a gun or other weapon

is broader and also covers sudden forceful speech or throws

to outfling

vsto let fly

Archaic

9.7

To throw or spread something outward with force

is similar but also covers sudden force used for words

Antonyms

to withhold

210 5.1

Refuse to give something someone wants or needs

to hold back

187 3.2

Stop someone or something from moving forward

How Forceful

to blast

45 3.5

to hurl

53 3.6

to let fly

3 5.8

to throw

∞ 1.0

to toss

348 1.0

Surface Forms

let fly infinitive

let flew past

let flown past participle

letting fly present participle

lets fly third person singular

Morphology

let + fly

A learner who knows 'let' (allow/release) and 'fly' (move through the air) can plausibly infer a basic sense of releasing or sending something so it moves through the air (e.g., throwing or shooting). However, the frequent metaphorical extension to non-physical actions (e.g., 'let fly with insults') and the idiomatic causative nuance are not fully predictable without exposure, so the expression is only partially transparent.

Etymology

The phrasal verb let fly comes from the image of quickly releasing a missile: to let something go so it will fly through the air. So, it now means to 'shoot' or 'throw' suddenly, and by extension to 'say something forcefully'.