fling
to throw, cast, or hurl with force or violence: to fling a stone.
to move (oneself) violently with impatience, contempt, or the like: She flung herself angrily from the room.
to put suddenly or violently: to fling a suspect into jail.
to project or speak sharply, curtly, or forcefully: He flung his answer at the questioner.
to involve (oneself) vigorously in an undertaking.
to move, do, or say (something) quickly: to fling a greeting in passing.
to send suddenly and rapidly: to fling fresh troops into a battle.
to throw aside or off.
to throw to the ground, as in wrestling or horseback riding.
to move with haste or violence; rush; dash.
to fly into violent and irregular motions, as a horse; throw the body about, as a person.
to speak harshly or abusively (usually followed by out): He flung out disgustedly against the whole human race.
an act of flinging.
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.
an attempt at something: He took a fling at playwriting.
a critical or contemptuous remark; gibe.
Also called Highland fling. a lively Scottish dance characterized by flinging movements of the arms and legs.
Origin of fling
1Other words from fling
- outfling, verb (used with object), out·flung, out·fling·ing.
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024
How to use fling in a sentence
In addition, Romney better watch it, flinging the tax-increase charge.
“He was flinging red-meat answers intending to fire up the crowd,” Williams told me.
Then the croupier tears open two packets of new cards, flinging the old ones into a waste-paper basket at his side.
The Pit Town Coronet, Volume I (of 3) | Charles James WillsOn rolled the wave of blue, catching and flinging back hundreds of the fleeing Confederates.
The Courier of the Ozarks | Byron A. DunnIt is as much as I can do to prevent myself flinging my arms round the old shop-woman's neck and kissing her flabby cheeks.
Marguerite | Anatole France
"I am more at ease without it," said the boy, flinging the velvet square angrily across the room.
The Dragon Painter | Mary McNeil FenollosaIn the midst of its heaving waters he quickly arose flinging his long arms wildly about, and shouting for help with bubbling cry.
Hunted and Harried | R.M. Ballantyne
British Dictionary definitions for fling
/ (flɪŋ) /
to throw, esp with force or abandon; hurl or toss
to put or send without warning or preparation: to fling someone into jail
(also intr) to move (oneself or a part of the body) with abandon or speed: he flung himself into a chair
(usually foll by into) to apply (oneself) diligently and with vigour (to)
to cast aside; disregard: she flung away her scruples
to utter violently or offensively
poetic to give out; emit
the act or an instance of flinging; toss; throw
a period or occasion of unrestrained, impulsive, or extravagant behaviour: to have a fling
any of various vigorous Scottish reels full of leaps and turns, such as the Highland fling
a trial; try: to have a fling at something different
Origin of fling
1Derived forms of fling
- flinger, noun
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
Other Idioms and Phrases with fling
In addition to the idiom beginning with fling
- fling oneself at someone
also see:
- last fling
The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
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