- To fly in the face of
- Fly Fly (fl[imac]), v. i. [imp. {Flew} (fl[=u]); p. p. {Flown}
(fl[=o]n); p. pr. & vb. n. {Flying}.] [OE. fleen, fleen,
fleyen, flegen, AS. fle['o]gan; akin to D. vliegen, OHG.
fliogan, G. fliegen, Icel. flj[=u]ga, Sw. flyga, Dan. flyve,
Goth. us-flaugjan to cause to fly away, blow about, and perh.
to L. pluma feather, E. plume. [root]84. Cf. {Fledge},
{Flight}, {Flock} of animals.]
1. To move in or pass through the air with wings, as a bird.
2. To move through the air or before the wind; esp., to pass or be driven rapidly through the air by any impulse. [1913 Webster]
3. To float, wave, or rise in the air, as sparks or a flag. [1913 Webster]
Man is born unto trouble, as the sparks fly upward. --Job v. 7. [1913 Webster]
4. To move or pass swiftly; to hasten away; to circulate rapidly; as, a ship flies on the deep; a top flies around; rumor flies. [1913 Webster]
Fly, envious Time, till thou run out thy race. --Milton. [1913 Webster]
The dark waves murmured as the ships flew on. --Bryant. [1913 Webster]
5. To run from danger; to attempt to escape; to flee; as, an enemy or a coward flies. See Note under {Flee}. [1913 Webster]
Fly, ere evil intercept thy flight. --Milton. [1913 Webster]
Whither shall I fly to escape their hands ? --Shak. [1913 Webster]
6. To move suddenly, or with violence; to do an act suddenly or swiftly; -- usually with a qualifying word; as, a door flies open; a bomb flies apart. [1913 Webster]
{To fly about} (Naut.), to change frequently in a short time; -- said of the wind.
{To fly around}, to move about in haste. [Colloq.]
{To fly at}, to spring toward; to rush on; to attack suddenly.
{To fly in the face of}, to insult; to assail; to set at defiance; to oppose with violence; to act in direct opposition to; to resist.
{To fly off}, to separate, or become detached suddenly; to revolt.
{To fly on}, to attack.
{To fly open}, to open suddenly, or with violence.
{To fly out}. (a) To rush out. (b) To burst into a passion; to break out into license.
{To let fly}. (a) To throw or drive with violence; to discharge. ``A man lets fly his arrow without taking any aim.'' --Addison. (b) (Naut.) To let go suddenly and entirely; as, to let fly the sheets. [1913 Webster]
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English. 2000.
