fly around

fly around — phrasal verb

  • fly aroundbase form
  • flies around3rd person singular
  • flying around-ing form
  • flew aroundpast simple
  • flown aroundpast participle

1. if ideas, comments, or accusations fly around, many people share them quickly an

1.phrasal verbintransitiveB2
Definition

if ideas, comments, or accusations fly around, many people share them quickly and the situation becomes lively or tense

Example

Accusations flew around the committee room after the report leaked.

accusations flew around

During lunch, wild ideas were flying around about how to save the project.

ideas were flying around

Common collocations
  • rumours fly around
  • ideas fly around
  • remarks fly around
  • accusations fly around
  • questions fly around
Synonyms
  • circulate

    more neutral and often used for information or documents

  • spread

    more general; can describe news, rumours, diseases, or feelings

  • go around

    informal and common with rumours or stories

Antonyms
  • die down

    to become less active or less talked about

Grammar Patterns

ideas fly around

remarks fly around

accusations fly around

rumours fly around

Usage Note

Use this phrasal verb for information, ideas, comments, questions, or accusations spreading fast among people. It is often used in continuous forms such as 'rumours are flying around'.

Common Mistakes

Do not use this sense for a person or object moving through the air. Say 'The paper flew across the room,' not 'The paper flew around' unless it was moving in many directions.

Word family

Synonym discussion

Sense: phrasal verb/1

'Fly around' suggests that ideas, comments, or accusations are moving quickly among many people and creating excitement, confusion, or tension. 'Circulate' is more neutral and can sound formal. 'Spread' is broader and works for news, rumours, illness, or emotions. 'Go around' is conversational and is especially common with rumours or stories.

fly around ↗circulate ↗spread ↗go around ↗

Common collocations

Nouns

Phrases

  • rumours fly around
  • ideas fly around
  • accusations fly around
  • comments fly around

Prepositions

  • fly around about something
  • fly around among people