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Consult Chambers 21st Century Dictionary, The Chambers Thesaurus (1996) or Chambers Biographical Dictionary (1997 edition with amendments). Enter your search and choose your title from the drop-down menu.
fly1 noun (flies) 1 a two-winged insect, especially the common housefly. 2 in compounds any of various other flying insects • mayfly • dragonfly • butterfly. 3 angling a fish hook tied with colourful feathers to look like a fly, used in fly-fishing. drop like flies colloq to fall ill or die in large numbers. a fly in the ointment a drawback or disadvantage to an otherwise satisfactory state of affairs. a fly on the wall the invisible observer, usually at a meeting or in a social situation, that one would like to be on certain occasions to find out what is happening without having to take part. no flies on someone colloq referring to someone who is cunning and not easily fooled • There are no flies on Harry. they, etc wouldn't harm a fly they, etc have a gentle nature.
ETYMOLOGY: Anglo-Saxon fleoge.
fly1 noun (flies) 1 a two-winged insect, especially the common housefly. 2 in compounds any of various other flying insects • mayfly • dragonfly • butterfly. 3 angling a fish hook tied with colourful feathers to look like a fly, used in fly-fishing. drop like flies colloq to fall ill or die in large numbers. a fly in the ointment a drawback or disadvantage to an otherwise satisfactory state of affairs. a fly on the wall the invisible observer, usually at a meeting or in a social situation, that one would like to be on certain occasions to find out what is happening without having to take part. no flies on someone colloq referring to someone who is cunning and not easily fooled • There are no flies on Harry. they, etc wouldn't harm a fly they, etc have a gentle nature.
ETYMOLOGY: Anglo-Saxon fleoge.
fly1 noun (flies) 1 a two-winged insect, especially the common housefly. 2 in compounds any of various other flying insects • mayfly • dragonfly • butterfly. 3 angling a fish hook tied with colourful feathers to look like a fly, used in fly-fishing. drop like flies colloq to fall ill or die in large numbers. a fly in the ointment a drawback or disadvantage to an otherwise satisfactory state of affairs. a fly on the wall the invisible observer, usually at a meeting or in a social situation, that one would like to be on certain occasions to find out what is happening without having to take part. no flies on someone colloq referring to someone who is cunning and not easily fooled • There are no flies on Harry. they, etc wouldn't harm a fly they, etc have a gentle nature.
ETYMOLOGY: Anglo-Saxon fleoge.
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The Chambers Dictionary (13th edition)
“Chambers is the one I keep at my right hand”- Philip Pullman.
The unrivalled dictionary for word lovers, now in its 13th edition.
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The Chambers Thesaurus
The Chambers Thesaurus (4th Edition) is a veritable treasure-trove, including the greatest selection of alternative words and phrases available in an A to Z format. -
Chambers Biographical Dictionary
“Simply all you need to know about anyone” – Fay Weldon.
Thoroughly revised and updated for its 9th edition.
Consult Chambers 21st Century Dictionary, The Chambers Thesaurus (1996) or Chambers Biographical Dictionary (1997 edition with amendments). Enter your search and choose your title from the drop-down menu.
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