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

"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

Give us some fly on the wall info.

From Los Angeles Times • Nov. 19, 2024

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

In this book, you're like a fly on the wall, and I mean that almost literally.

From Salon • Sep. 13, 2023

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

From "From Twinkle, with Love" by Sandhya Menon