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flung

[fluhng]
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verb
  1. simple past tense and past participle of fling.

fling

[fling]
verb (used with object), flung, fling·ing.
  1. to throw, cast, or hurl with force or violence: to fling a stone.
  2. to move (oneself) violently with impatience, contempt, or the like: She flung herself angrily from the room.
  3. to put suddenly or violently: to fling a suspect into jail.
  4. to project or speak sharply, curtly, or forcefully: He flung his answer at the questioner.
  5. to involve (oneself) vigorously in an undertaking.
  6. to move, do, or say (something) quickly: to fling a greeting in passing.
  7. to send suddenly and rapidly: to fling fresh troops into a battle.
  8. to throw aside or off.
  9. to throw to the ground, as in wrestling or horseback riding.
verb (used without object), flung, fling·ing.
  1. to move with haste or violence; rush; dash.
  2. to fly into violent and irregular motions, as a horse; throw the body about, as a person.
  3. to speak harshly or abusively (usually followed by out): He flung out disgustedly against the whole human race.
noun
  1. an act of flinging.
  2. 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.
  3. an attempt at something: He took a fling at playwriting.
  4. a critical or contemptuous remark; gibe.
  5. Also called Highland fling. a lively Scottish dance characterized by flinging movements of the arms and legs.

Origin of fling

1250–1300; Middle English; compare Swedish flänga to fly, race
Related formsout·fling, verb (used with object), out·flung, out·fling·ing.
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

Examples from the Web for flung

Contemporary Examples

Historical Examples

  • He flung out of the room on to the terrace and strode away in a rage.

    Viviette

    William J. Locke

  • But Andrew flung himself out of the saddle and came to them sadly.

  • The bond was delivered to Fox, who tore it up and flung the pieces into the fire.

  • He ran up the staircase to his room and flung on some clothing.

    K

    Mary Roberts Rinehart

  • Others, in despair, flung themselves from the walls, and for the most part perished.

British Dictionary definitions for flung

flung

verb
  1. the past tense and past participle of fling

fling

verb flings, flinging or flung (flʌŋ) (mainly tr)
  1. to throw, esp with force or abandon; hurl or toss
  2. to put or send without warning or preparationto fling someone into jail
  3. (also intr) to move (oneself or a part of the body) with abandon or speedhe flung himself into a chair
  4. (usually foll by into) to apply (oneself) diligently and with vigour (to)
  5. to cast aside; disregardshe flung away her scruples
  6. to utter violently or offensively
  7. poetic to give out; emit
noun
  1. the act or an instance of flinging; toss; throw
  2. a period or occasion of unrestrained, impulsive, or extravagant behaviourto have a fling
  3. any of various vigorous Scottish reels full of leaps and turns, such as the Highland fling
  4. a trial; tryto have a fling at something different
Derived Formsflinger, noun

Word Origin

C13: of Scandinavian origin; related to Old Norse flengja to flog, Swedish flänga, Danish flænge
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

Word Origin and History for flung

past participle of fling (v.).

fling

n.

"attempt, attack," early 14c.; see fling (v.). Sense of "period of indulgence on the eve of responsibilities" first attested 1827. Meaning "vigorous dance" (associated with the Scottish Highlands) is from 1806.

fling

v.

c.1300, probably from or related to Old Norse flengja "to flog," of uncertain origin. The Middle English intransitive sense is that suggested by phrase have a fling at "make a try." An obsolete word for "streetwalker, harlot" was fling-stink (1670s). Related: Flung; flinging.

Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper

Idioms and Phrases with flung

fling

In addition to the idiom beginning with fling

also see:

The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.