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flying visit
An exceptionally brief visit. We went for a flying visit to my mother's house before continuing on our way to the beach.
come through (something) with flying colors
To win, achieve, or accomplish something exceptionally well or very successfully. Said especially of a test, examination, or training of some kind. Primarily heard in US. Samantha was rather nervous taking her final exam, but she came through with flying colors! Your brother has come through his apprenticeship with flying colors. He'll be a master builder in no time!
pass (something) with flying colours
To win, achieve, or accomplish something exceptionally well or very successfully. Said especially of a test, examination, or training of some kind. Primarily heard in UK. Samantha was rather nervous taking her final exam, but she passed with flying colours! Your brother passed his apprenticeship with flying colours. He'll be a master builder in no time!
fly beneath (the/someone's) radar
To go without being noticed, detected, or addressed. A: "Have you heard this band's latest album?" B: "I didn't even know it was out, it must have flown beneath my radar." Every year, the government promises to do something about the homelessness problem, yet every year it seems to fly beneath the radar.
fly under (the/someone's) radar
To go without being noticed, detected, or addressed. A: "Have you heard this band's latest album?" B: "I didn't even know it was out, it must have flown under my radar." Every year, the government promises to do something about the homelessness problem, yet every year it seems to fly under the radar again.
fly by the seat of (one's) pants
To rely on one's instinct, as opposed to acting according to a set plan. I really don't know how to operate this thing, I'm just flying by the seat of my pants here. You can't just fly by the seat of your pants, Jenna—please give your future some serious thought.
fly in the face of
To be or act in clear opposition to something else. I can't believe you said something so awful. It flies in the face of everything we stand for! Don't quit now, that just flies in the face of all your hard work.
fly in the teeth of
To be or act in clear opposition to something else. I can't believe you said something so awful. It flies in the teeth of everything we stand for! Don't quit now, that just flies in the teeth of all your hard work.
Flying Dutchman
A name that can apply either to a legendary ship, whose ghostly wreckage is said to be sometimes seen in times of bad weather near the Cape of Good Hope, or to the captain of this ship, who must sail until Judgment Day. I swear, I saw the Flying Dutchman during that last storm. Every time I take out my boat, I'm reminded of the Flying Dutchman, and how he is doomed to sail the seas until kingdom come.
flying fish
A type of fish that has winglike fins that allow it to glide above the water after it leaps into the air. Those flying fish soaring above the water are just about the craziest thing I've ever seen.
be flying high
1. To be very successful. Our business has been flying high ever since we launched this very popular new product.
2. slang To be very happy, often because of drug use. Primarily heard in US. Mary was flying high after her surgery, but I don't think she'll be quite as happy once the drugs wear off. A: "Wow, everyone is really excited to see this band play." B: "I think they're all just flying high."
fly in the face of someone or something
and fly in the teeth of someone or somethingFig. to challenge someone or something; to go against someone or something. This idea flies in the face of everything we know about matter and energy. You had better not fly in the face of the committee.
flying high
1. Fig. very successful in one's ambitions; in an important or powerful position. (Often with the implication that this is not the usual situation or will change.) The government is flying high just now, but wait until the budget is announced. He's flying high these days, but he comes from a very poor family.
2. Fig. in a state of euphoria. (From good news, success, or drugs.) Wow! Todd is really flying high. Did he discover a gold mine? Sally is flying high. What's she on?
get something off the ground
1. Lit. to get something into the air. I'll announce the weather to the passengers as soon as we get the plane off the ground. I hope they get this plane off the ground soon.
2. Fig. to get something started. (Alludes to an airplane beginning a flight.) When we get this event off the ground we can relax. It is my job to get the celebration plans off the ground.
keep the stork flying
and keep the stork busyRur. to have lots of children. Sally's pregnant again, with their sixth. They sure do keep the stork flying! Grandma and grandpa kept the stork flying. I've got ten aunts and uncles.
*off to a flying start
Fig. having a very successful beginning to something. (*Typically: be ~; get ~.) The new business got off to a flying start with those export orders. We shall need a large donation from the local citizens if the charity is to get off to a flying start.
with flying colors
Cliché easily and excellently. John passed his geometry test with flying colors. Sally qualified for the race with flying colors.
with flying colors
with great success She took a driving test and passed with flying colors. My brother always managed to get through his courses, although not always with flying colors.
Etymology: based on the small and colorful flags flown (hung in the wind) on boats and ships in a race or when coming into port
fly in the face of something
to be the opposite of what is usual or accepted His decision to start his own business certainly flies in the face of good judgment.
flying high
1. doing very well All those companies were flying high at first, and next thing you knew they had all crashed to the ground.
2. to be very excited or happy He just heard that he got the scholarship and is really flying high.
get something off the ground
to start Casey and his friend tried to start a band, but it never got off the ground. A lot more money will be needed to get this project off the ground.
Etymology: based on the idea of an aircraft getting off the ground (starting a flight)
send somebody/something flying
to cause someone or something to move very quickly An explosion rocked the building, sending him flying into a desk.
off to a flying start
beginning very well This year he's off to a flying start, playing very well and winning his first five games.
fly in the face of something
(slightly formal) to be the opposite of what is usual or accepted These recommendations fly in the face of previous advice on safe limits for alcohol consumption.
be flying high
1. if a person or a company is flying high, they are very successful The company was flying high as a maker of personal computers.
2. (American informal) to be very excited or happy, often because of the effect of drugs The guy was on drugs - flying high and scaring everyone around him. When the winter Olympics came to Canada, the whole country was flying high.
come through/pass with flying colours
(British & Australian) also come through/pass with flying colors (American & Australian) to pass an examination with a very high score or to complete a difficult activity very successfully She took her university entrance exam in December and passed with flying colours. The officer training was gruelling, but he came through with flying colours.
get off to a flying start
to begin an activity very successfully Maria got off to a flying start in her new job. With several customers on the books already, Tim's new business had got off to a flying start.
get (something) off the ground
if a plan or activity gets off the ground or you get it off the ground, it starts or succeeds The scheme should get off the ground towards the end of this year. A lot more public spending will be required to get this project off the ground.
kite-flying
(British & Australian) the act of telling people about an idea or plan so that you can find out what they think about it Mr Baker's hint about US intervention in the war was undoubtedly an exercise in kite-flying.
See fly a kite, Go fly a kite!flying start
fly in the face of
Also, fly in the teeth of. Act in direct opposition to or defiance of. For example, This decision flies in the face of all precedent, or They went out without permission, flying in the teeth of house rules. This metaphoric expression alludes to a physical attack. [Mid-1500s]
get off the ground
Make a start, get underway, as in Because of legal difficulties, the construction project never got off the ground. This expression, alluding to flight, dates from the mid-1900s. The similar-sounding get off to a flying start, meaning "make a successful start," alludes not to flight but to a quick start in a race, a usage from the late 1800s. For example, He's off to a flying start with his dissertation.
send flying
Cause to be knocked or scattered about, as in She bumped into the table and sent all the papers flying. This somewhat hyperbolic idiom was first recorded in 1789.
with flying colors, pass with
Also, come through with flying colors. Win, succeed, as in She came through the bar exam with flying colors. This expression alludes to a victorious ship sailing with its flags high. [Late 1600s]
flying-fuck
1. n. a real or imaginary act of copulation where the male leaps or dives onto and into the female. (Usually objectionable.) The movie showed some jerk allegedly performing a flying-fuck, just for laughs.
2. and french-fried-fuck n. something totally worthless. (Usually objectionable.) Who gives a flying-fuck anyway? I wouldn’t give you a french-fried-fuck for all the crummy cars like that in the world.
with flying colors
mod. flamboyantly; boldly. Paul came home with flying colors after the match.
with flying colors
With complete or outstanding success: passed the exam with flying colors.
send flying
Informal To cause to be knocked or scattered about with force: a blow to the table that sent the dishes flying.
Common Names:
| Name | Gender | Pronounced | Usage |
|---|
| Praskovya | | prah-SKOV-yah | Russian |
| SİNem | | - | Turkish |
| Celestina | | the-le-STEE-nah (Spanish), se-le-STEE-nah (Latin American Spanish), che-le-STEE-nah (Italian) | Spanish, Italian |
| HÁKon | | - | Ancient Scandinavian, Icelandic |
| Sotirios | | - | Greek |
| Nina (2) | | - | Near Eastern Mythology |