fling
Americanverb (used with object)
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to throw, cast, or hurl with force or violence.
to fling a stone.
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to move (oneself ) violently with impatience, contempt, or the like.
She flung herself angrily from the room.
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to put suddenly or violently.
to fling a suspect into jail.
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to project or speak sharply, curtly, or forcefully.
He flung his answer at the questioner.
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to involve (oneself ) vigorously in an undertaking.
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to move, do, or say (something) quickly.
to fling a greeting in passing.
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to send suddenly and rapidly.
to fling fresh troops into a battle.
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to throw aside or off.
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to throw to the ground, as in wrestling or horseback riding.
verb (used without object)
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to move with haste or violence; rush; dash.
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to fly into violent and irregular motions, as a horse; throw the body about, as a person.
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to speak harshly or abusively (usually followed byout ).
He flung out disgustedly against the whole human race.
noun
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an act of flinging.
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a short period of unrestrained pursuit of one's wishes or desires.
The week of partying was my last fling before starting a new job.
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an attempt at something.
He took a fling at playwriting.
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a critical or contemptuous remark; gibe.
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Also called Highland fling. a lively Scottish dance characterized by flinging movements of the arms and legs.
verb
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to throw, esp with force or abandon; hurl or toss
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to put or send without warning or preparation
to fling someone into jail
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(also intr) to move (oneself or a part of the body) with abandon or speed
he flung himself into a chair
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(usually foll by into) to apply (oneself) diligently and with vigour (to)
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to cast aside; disregard
she flung away her scruples
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to utter violently or offensively
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poetic to give out; emit
noun
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the act or an instance of flinging; toss; throw
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a period or occasion of unrestrained, impulsive, or extravagant behaviour
to have a fling
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any of various vigorous Scottish reels full of leaps and turns, such as the Highland fling
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a trial; try
to have a fling at something different
Other Word Forms
- flinger noun
- outfling verb (used with object)
Etymology
Origin of fling
First recorded in 1250–1300; Middle English; compare Swedish flänga “to fly, race”
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Someone should pick her to be in them, posing with one hand on her waist, which was just the right size, and the other one flung up behind her as she pretended to walk.
From Literature
As the spin increases, loose material can be flung off the surface and sometimes form a small moon.
From Science Daily
The collision flung up great mounds and spires and ridges, mixed with sand and rock.
From Literature
Papa ran to the front door and flung it open before the policemen could ring the bell.
From Literature
“I wonder if phones are programmed to fling themselves into oncoming traffic to force you to upgrade.”
From Literature
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
