Phrase Hound found 393 phrases and 241 compound words that contain fly. The most common are listed below. Open fly in the live search for definitions, filters, and the full list.
Phrases 393
- fly fishingA form of angling whereby the weight of the line is used to cast a lure visually resembling a fly.
- fruit flyAny insect of the Tephritidae family, whose larvae damage plant tissue.
- fly ashA residue generated in the combustion of powdered coal or other materials, comprising the fine particles that rise with the flue gases; when generated industrially it is usually captured and can be recycled for use in construction …
- fly outTo travel by airplane to a destination.
- fly-awayAlternative form of flyaway: Disposed to fly away; unrestrained; light and free.
- fly-overAlternative form of flyover: A low-level flight, especially of military aircraft, of a ceremonial nature; a flypast (British).
- Spanish flyA supposed aphrodisiac extracted from the blister beetle Lytta vesicatoria; cantharidin, the active ingredient, a vesicant used as a defence by L. vesicatoria and other blister beetles.
- fly-halfA rugby player who is normally the first receiver of the ball from the scrum half after a scrum; a half-back.
- when pigs flyNever.
- fly-by-nightA creature which flies at night; a nocturnal flier or traveler.
- fly paperAlternative form of flypaper: A strip of paper coated with a sticky, often poisonous, substance that catches and kills flies that land on it.
- fly ballA batted ball that has been hit into the air above the outfield; a fly.
- fly-tipTo dispose of waste (garbage) illegally, rather than at an authorized dump location.
- bee flyAny of the flies in the family Bombyliidae, with adults that look like bumblebees and larvae that are parasitic on the eggs or larvae of other insects.
- March flyAny of the family Bibionidae of dark hairy flies.
- fly the flagTo be registered in a particular country and display that country's flag as a result. (of a ship, airline etc)
- forest flyA horsefly, any of numerous species of blood-sucking flies of the family Tabanidae.
- flesh flyany fly of the family Sarcophagidae that feed on carrion
- fly on the wallA quiet, non-participating, or unseen observer; an eavesdropper or witness.
- fly agaricA poisonous and hallucinogenic mushroom, Amanita muscaria, with a large crimson cap, fading to yellow, scattered with white flecks.
- fly in the ointmentSomething (especially a minor thing) which ruins or spoils everything else, or makes it less pleasant; a nuisance or problem; a disagreeable or unpleasant detail.
- bush flyA blow fly of the family Calliphoridae.
- face flyA fly, Musca autumnalis, that resembles the housefly and is a pest of cattle and horses.
- hurt a flyTo hurt or damage something even a little.
- wet flyA lure for fly fishing designed to be fished beneath the surface of the water.
Compound words 241
- flightThe act of flying.
- butterflyA flying insect of the order Lepidoptera, distinguished from moths by their diurnal activity and generally brighter colouring.
- flyerThat which flies, as a bird or insect.
- dragonflyAn insect of the suborder Epiprocta or, more strictly, the infraorder Anisoptera, having four long transparent wings held perpendicular to a long body when perched.
- fireflyAny beetle of the family Lampyridae, which exhibit bioluminescence during twilight.
- flycatcherAny of many kinds of birds of the family Muscicapidae, of Africa, Europe, and Asia, that catch insects in flight; an Old World flycatcher.
- barflyA person who spends much time in a bar or similar drinking establishment
- gadflyAny dipterous (“two-winged”) insect or fly of the family Oestridae (commonly known as a botfly) or Tabanidae (horsefly), noted for irritating animals by buzzing about them, and biting them to suck their blood; a gadbee.
- horseflyAny of several medium to large flies, of the family Tabanidae, that suck the blood of mammals (not to be confused with Stomoxys calcitrans, the stable fly, or dog fly).
- mayflyAny of the many fragile insects of the order Ephemeroptera that develop in fresh water and live very briefly as winged adults.