flies
flies — verb
- fliespresent simple I / you / we / they
- flieses3rd person singular
- fliesing-ing form
- fliesedpast simple
1. When a bird, insect, or aircraft moves through the air, it moves above the groun
When a bird, insect, or aircraft moves through the air, it moves above the ground using wings or engines.
Every autumn, a flock of geese flies south for the winter.
flies + direction phrase (south / north / across)
The paper airplane flies across the classroom and lands near the teacher's desk.
Soraya watches as the red kite flies higher into the bright blue sky.
flies + comparative direction (higher / farther)
When the helicopter flies over the lake, small waves appear on the surface.
flies + over / above / across [place]
Ingrid's pet parrot flies to her shoulder whenever she enters the room.
- fly through the air
- fly over / above
- fly south / north
Grammar Patterns
flies + adverb or direction phrase
Usage Note
The subject is typically a living creature with wings (birds, insects, bats) or any machine that moves through the air (aircraft, paper planes, drones).
Common Mistakes
2. To control and guide an aircraft or spacecraft while it is in the air, or to tra
To control and guide an aircraft or spacecraft while it is in the air, or to travel as a passenger in one.
Minh's aunt flies a small plane to deliver medicine to remote mountain villages.
flies + (aircraft) + to + (destination)
The senior pilot flies the Boeing 777 from Taipei to San Francisco twice every week.
Matthew flies a rescue helicopter for the coast guard along the eastern coastline.
flies + (vehicle) + for + (organisation / purpose)
Tamar flies her camera drone above the rice fields to check the health of the crops.
The astronaut flies the space shuttle during its journey to the International Space Station.
flies + (spacecraft) in specialised context
- fly a plane / helicopter / drone
- fly from... to...
- fly via (a city)
Grammar Patterns
flies + aircraft (transitive)
flies from + place + to + place (intransitive)
Usage Note
Subject is typically a pilot or person controlling the vehicle. In intransitive use, the subject can also be a passenger: 'She flies business class to London.' For uncrewed aircraft (drones), this sense applies when the operator is described as flying the device.
Common Mistakes
3. To send or carry people or goods from one place to another using an aircraft, us
To send or carry people or goods from one place to another using an aircraft, usually as a regular service.
The airline flies fresh seafood from Hualien to Tokyo every morning before sunrise.
flies + (goods) + from + (place) + to + (place)
The Red Cross flies medical supplies to disaster areas within twenty-four hours of the emergency.
flies + (supplies / aid) + to + (destination) for humanitarian purpose
Kian's company flies its engineering team to the construction site in a small chartered jet.
The express courier service flies urgent documents between Taipei and Singapore overnight.
flies + (items) + between + (places)
- fly supplies / passengers / cargo
- fly to / from / between
- fly in / out
Grammar Patterns
flies + cargo / passengers + to + place
Usage Note
The subject is typically an airline, courier, or organisation rather than an individual pilot. The object is what gets transported — either people or cargo — not the aircraft itself.
Common Mistakes
4. To make something stay up and move in the air on purpose, such as flying a kite,
To make something stay up and move in the air on purpose, such as flying a kite, raising a flag, or releasing a balloon.
Every Saturday afternoon, Caleb flies his red-and-blue kite on the windy beach near the lighthouse.
flies + (object: kite) + on / at (location)
The school flies the national flag at the front gate every morning before the first class.
flies + (object: flag) for ceremonial purpose
The children fly colourful balloons into the sky during the Lunar New Year celebration in the park.
Madison flies her camera drone above the highway to check for traffic jams near the bridge.
flies + (object: drone / model aircraft) for practical purpose
Arjun flies his model rocket in the park while his younger sister watches from the bench.
- fly a kite
- fly a flag
- fly a balloon
- fly a drone
Grammar Patterns
flies + object (kite / flag / balloon / drone) + place phrase
Usage Note
Common objects are kite, flag, balloon, and drone. Unlike sense 1 (THROUGH AIR), the subject makes the object move through the air rather than moving itself. The passive form is common: 'A flag is flown at every government building.'
Common Mistakes
5. To leave a place very quickly to escape from danger, trouble, or an unpleasant s
To leave a place very quickly to escape from danger, trouble, or an unpleasant situation.
When the fire alarm sounds, everyone flies out of the building through the emergency exits.
flies + out of (place) — escaping danger
The thief flies down the back stairs when he hears the police siren approaching the shop.
As the earthquake begins, the family flies from their home to the field across the street.
flies + from (place) + to (safer place)
The deer flies into the forest when it senses the hunter coming down the road.
Sayaka flies out of the meeting room when her angry boss starts shouting at everyone.
flies + out of (room / building) — avoiding confrontation
- fly from danger
- fly out of the room / building
- fly into hiding
Grammar Patterns
flies from / out of / into + place
Usage Note
Often followed by from, out of, or into. Distinguished from sense 6 (PASS QUICKLY) by the element of fear or danger that triggers the movement. This sense can also take a direct object in formal or older English ('fly the country'), but that pattern is rare in modern conversation.
Common Mistakes
6. To pass or move at high speed — used when time goes by faster than you expect, o
To pass or move at high speed — used when time goes by faster than you expect, or when an object travels fast through the air.
Time flies when you are having fun with your friends at a weekend party.
fixed idiom: time flies (when...)
The weekend flies by, and before Sofie knows it, Monday morning has arrived again.
phrasal pattern: flies by (time period passing quickly)
The soccer ball flies past the goalkeeper and hits the back of the net.
flies past (movement at high speed)
A rumour flies around the office that the manager is leaving next month.
flies around — fast spread (news / rumour / gossip)
- time flies
- flies by
- flies past
- flies open
Grammar Patterns
time flies / flies by / flies past
Usage Note
Common with time expressions ('time flies', 'the weekend flies by') and with objects moving fast ('the ball flies past', 'the door flies open'). Distinguished from sense 5 (FLEE DANGER) by the absence of fear or danger — the movement is simply fast, not panicked.
Common Mistakes
7. To be used up, spent, or lost very quickly — used of money, savings, or resource
To be used up, spent, or lost very quickly — used of money, savings, or resources that disappear faster than expected.
By month's end, most of Lien's paycheck had flown away on small daily purchases.
flown away — pattern for money/resources depleting
All their savings flew out of the account within a few months of the emergency.
flew out of — pattern for funds leaving an account
The donation money flew through the charity's hands faster than anyone expected.
flew through — rapid consumption of resources
Ravi watched his inheritance fly away on car repairs and medical bills.
fly away — resources disappearing
- money flies
- savings fly out of
- inheritance flew away
- fly through
- fly out of
- vanish
more sudden and complete disappearance
- evaporate
more figurative, often for money or opportunities
- drain away
suggests a gradual but steady loss of resources
- accumulate
opposite of using up (money or resources)
- save
to keep money instead of spending it
Grammar Patterns
fly + adverb (away, out, past)
fly + prepositional phrase (out of)
Usage Note
The subject is typically money or resources (paycheck, savings, budget, inheritance, funds). Distinguished from sense 6 (MOVE QUICKLY) by focusing on disappearance or depletion rather than the speed of passage itself.
Common Mistakes
8. to be accepted, approved, or successful — used of ideas, plans, excuses, jokes,
to be accepted, approved, or successful — used of ideas, plans, excuses, jokes, or proposals when they gain support from a particular person or group.
Meera's proposal to start a recycling program at school did not fly with the principal.
did not fly with — common negative pattern
Nikos suggested ten-minute breaks every hour, and the idea flew among the tired team.
Isabela's excuse for missing the meeting will not fly with the board of directors.
will not fly — most common form (negative future)
The plan to close the library would never fly in a town that loves reading.
Jude told a joke at the meeting, but it did not fly with the bosses.
- not fly with
- never fly
- will not fly
- would not fly
- fly among
- succeed
broader meaning, not limited to ideas or proposals
- work
more informal, everyday use
- pass muster
formal, suggests being tested against a standard
Grammar Patterns
will not fly with [someone]
never fly in [context]
fly with [group]
Usage Note
Overwhelmingly used in negative constructions (will not fly, did not fly, never fly) or hypothetical questions (do you think it will fly?). Affirmative uses (the idea flew) are much rarer and usually describe a specific past event.
Common Mistakes
9. in baseball, to hit a ball high into the air so that it can be caught by a field
in baseball, to hit a ball high into the air so that it can be caught by a fielder, resulting in an out.
With two strikes against him, Andrew flew out to center field and ended the inning.
flew out to — baseball pattern for type of hit
The batter flies to deep left field, and the crowd watches the ball carefully.
flies to [direction] field — present tense in play-by-play
Sivan has flown out three times this game, each time to a different outfielder.
The rookie flew a high pitch to right field, barely missing a home run.
Mei tends to fly the first pitch to shallow left whenever facing a fast pitcher.
fly + the first pitch + to [location]
- fly out
- fly to center field
- fly to left field
- fly to right field
- fly to deep
- fly to shallow
- pop up
hits a short, high fly ball, usually near home plate
- ground out
hits a ball along the ground that results in an out
Grammar Patterns
fly out to [field position]
fly to [field area]
Usage Note
Used mainly in baseball game commentary, reporting, and player descriptions. The direction of the hit (to center field, to left, to right) is almost always stated. 'Fly out' means the batter is out because the ball was caught in the air.
Common Mistakes
flies — noun
1. small flying insects with two wings that are commonly found near food, rubbish,
small flying insects with two wings that are commonly found near food, rubbish, and in homes during warm weather
Kemi waved her hand to shoo the flies away from the picnic table.
flies away from [place] — movement collocation
The kitchen screen door had a small hole that let flies come inside.
In summer, flies gather around fruit bowls and bins if you leave them uncovered.
flies gather around — typical behaviour pattern
Aoi could hear the buzzing of flies near the window on the hot afternoon.
buzzing of flies — sound collocation
The farmer said that too many flies around the cows meant the barn needed cleaning.
- swat flies
- shoo flies
- flies buzz
- flies gather
- flies land
- insects
a broader category that includes flies, bees, ants, etc.
- houseflies
the specific type of fly most often found in homes
- pests
emphasises that flies are unwanted and cause trouble
Grammar Patterns
the flies
flies + verb (gather, buzz, land)
Usage Note
This is the plural form of fly (the insect). One insect is a fly; several are flies.
Common Mistakes
2. the covered opening at the front part of trousers, closed with a zipper or butto
the covered opening at the front part of trousers, closed with a zipper or buttons, that allows the wearer to use the toilet without removing the whole garment
Ilan checked that his flies were done up before leaving the bathroom.
flies were done up — typical collocation for closing
The tailor sewed a new zipper into the flies of the old suit trousers.
flies of [garment] — possession pattern
Joaquín's little son was learning how to do up his own flies by himself.
do up [possessive] flies — phrasal verb pattern
Omar noticed that the button on his flies had come loose during the walk.
Eliska bought a pair of jeans with a short zipper on the flies.
- do up / fasten one's flies
- undo / open one's flies
- the flies of one's trousers
- button on the flies
- zip on the flies
- fly
the American English equivalent, used as a singular noun
- zip opening
focuses on the fastening method rather than the whole cloth opening
- button opening
used when the flies close with buttons instead of a zipper
Grammar Patterns
[possessive] flies
do up / undo [possessive] flies
flies of [garment]
Usage Note
In British English this is commonly called flies; in American English the singular fly is more common, although flies is also understood. The word is usually used in the plural form even when referring to one garment.
Common Mistakes
3. the area high above a theater stage that is hidden from the audience, where ligh
the area high above a theater stage that is hidden from the audience, where lights, ropes, curtains, and pieces of scenery are hung or stored until they are needed during a performance
The stagehands worked quietly up in the flies to lower the backdrop curtain.
up in the flies — location preposition pattern
Evelyn climbed the ladder to the flies to fix a light that had gone out.
The old ropes stored in the flies needed to be replaced before the next show.
stored in the flies — storage location pattern
Beatrix called to the technician in the flies to raise the heavy velvet curtain.
From the flies, the stage looked like a small, bright box full of actors.
from the flies — viewpoint pattern
- in the flies
- up in the flies
- work in the flies
- ropes stored in the flies
- lights hung in the flies
- from the flies
- fly loft
an alternative technical term for the same overhead space in a theatre
- fly tower
the vertical structure that houses the flies in a theatre building
- rigging loft
emphasises the ropes and pulleys used to move scenery
Grammar Patterns
the flies
in the flies
up in the flies
from the flies
Usage Note
Always used with the definite article — the flies. This is a technical theatre term and is not used in everyday conversation outside of theatre contexts.
Common Mistakes
flies — adjective
- fliespositive
- fliesercomparative
- fliesestsuperlative
1. extremely stylish, attractive, or impressive in a way that turns heads — used to
extremely stylish, attractive, or impressive in a way that turns heads — used to describe clothes, music, performances, or people that stand out as excellent.
Layla wore a flies leather jacket to the concert and got compliments from strangers all night.
be + flies + noun phrase
The DJ's remix was so flies that couples rushed onto the dance floor as soon as it started.
so flies that + result clause
Owen showed up in a flies vintage suit that he had found at a thrift store for only forty dollars.
Beatrix thought her grandfather's old watch was surprisingly flies and started wearing it to school every day.
That new burger place is absolutely flies — the line stretches around the block every single evening.
informal slang: absolutely flies
- flies outfit
- flies jacket
- flies shoes
- flies car
- flies party
- flies vibe
Grammar Patterns
be + flies
Usage Note
Almost always used in informal spoken contexts among younger speakers. Frequently appears with intensifiers like 'so', 'really', 'absolutely', or 'totally'. Not used in formal writing.
Common Mistakes
2. quick-minded and clever, especially in dealing with people or tricky situations
quick-minded and clever, especially in dealing with people or tricky situations — able to size up a situation and act smartly.
Femi was flies enough to notice the contract had a hidden fee written in tiny print.
flies enough to + infinitive
The lawyer was too flies for the opposing side and caught every contradiction they made.
too flies for [someone]
Liang figured out the puzzle in under a minute — that kid is seriously flies.
Astrid gave the reporter a flies answer that shut down the rude question without causing a scene.
A flies investor knows when to walk away from a deal that sounds too good to be true.
collocation: flies + [person] (clever person)
- flies answer
- flies move
- flies investor
- flies lawyer
- flies enough to
Grammar Patterns
be + flies
Usage Note
Describes mental sharpness rather than book-smarts — someone who is 'flies' in this sense reads people and situations quickly. Often implies a street-smart or practical cleverness.
Common Mistakes
flies — geographical name
1. a major river in southern Papua New Guinea that runs roughly 1,050 kilometres to
a major river in southern Papua New Guinea that runs roughly 1,050 kilometres to the southeast, where it reaches the sea at Papua New Guinea's southern gulf region
The Flies River cuts through thick rainforest on its way to the coast.
Scientists recorded over 200 bird species in the Flies River region last year.
proper name always used with definite article 'the'
Villagers near the Flies River rely on the water for fishing and transport.
The Flies River is an important habitat for saltwater crocodiles in New Guinea.
Heavy seasonal rains cause the Flies River to flood the surrounding plains every year.
- the Flies River
- Flies River region
- along the Flies River
Usage Note
This is a place name (proper noun) that shares the spelling of the English word 'flies' but comes from a different origin — the Dutch ship De Vlieg. It is not related to the English verb 'fly' or the insect 'fly'. Always used with the definite article 'the': the Flies River. Not part of general English vocabulary; included here as a geographical reference.
Word family
Synonym discussion
Sense: verb/1
The verb 'flies' (third-person singular of 'fly') describes movement through the air, but several near-synonyms add specific detail. 'Soar' suggests smooth, effortless, high-altitude flight—often with positive or majestic overtones ('an eagle soaring over the valley'). 'Glide' means moving through air with little or no power, using air currents or momentum (a paper plane gliding, a bird gliding on a thermal). 'Hover' is staying in one spot in the air (a helicopter hovering, a hummingbird hovering near a flower). 'Flap' focuses on the wing motion rather than the overall flight path. In usage: 'A hawk soars above the field looking for prey'; 'The drone hovers silently before landing'; 'The paper airplane glides across the room.'
Common collocations
Etymology
The word 'flies' is the third-person singular present form and the plural noun form of 'fly'. The verb 'fly' comes from Middle English 'flien', which itself traces back to Old English 'flēogan'. This Old English verb shares a root with Old High German 'fliogan' (to fly) and is probably related to Old English 'flōwan' (to flow). The noun 'fly' (the insect) also comes from Old English 'flēoge', literally meaning 'the flying creature', formed from the same verb root. The slang adjective sense ('stylish, cool') dates from the 1990s, possibly from African American Vernacular English.
First known use
12th century
12th century, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense 1a Noun (1)