fly on the wall

Idioms  

1. An unseen observer or listener, as in I wish I could be a fly on the wall when she tells him she's pregnant. [Mid-1900s]

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Example Sentences

See Examples For:

fly on the wall

“It’s like you’re a fly on the wall, especially if you’re riding in the car with the talent,” says Tidona.

From Los Angeles Times ● May 11, 2026

"I've always wanted to be a fly on the wall and see what he's saying about our lads," said Tuipulotu.

From Barron's ● Feb. 20, 2026

His notes show him wrestling with a decision he hadn’t let himself reckon with before: Was it time to stop being a fly on the wall and start taking action?

From Salon ● Jan. 7, 2025

At 6′7″ tall, Smith knows he's rarely a fly on the wall when he arrives in a community with a camera.

From Scientific American ● Oct. 17, 2023

I was here as a storyteller, a fly on the wall, not as a friend.

From "From Twinkle, with Love" by Sandhya Menon