/ˈflɪŋ/
OriginFrom Middle English fling, from the verb (see below). Compare Icelandic flengur (“a fast sprint”).
- An act of throwing, often violently.
- An act of moving the limbs or body with violent movements, especially in a dance.
- An act or period of unrestrained indulgence.
“When I was as young as you, I had my fling. I led a life of pleasure.”
“"I am inclined to go and have a fling with them. Why not all of us — just for a minute or two — it will not detain us long?"”
“Here again steam is having its last fling, and the "dual link" drivers at Brunswick shed, Liverpool, already are alternating steam and diesel duties.”
- A short romantic, oftentimes sexual, relationship.
“a summer fling”
“I had a fling with a girl I met on holiday.”
“Because I've noticed one thing / This ain't no summer fling”
- figurativelyAn attempt, a try.
- obsoleteA severe or contemptuous remark; an expression of sarcastic scorn; a gibe or taunt.
“I, who love to have a fling, / Both at senate house and king.”
- A lively Scottish country dance.
- obsoleteA trifling matter; an object of contempt.
“ante 1800, old proverb
England were but a fling / Save for the crooked stick and the grey goose wing.”
- transitiveTo throw with violence or quick movement; to hurl.
“'Tis Fate that casts the Dice, and as she flings,
Of Kings makes Pedants, and of Pedants Kings.”
“I know thy generous temper well. / Fling but the appearance of dishonour on it, / It straight takes fire.”
“Wilkinson was struggling, sending the re-start straight into touch and flinging a pass the same way, and France then went close to the first try of the contest as Clerc took a long pass out on the lef”
- intransitive, literaryTo move (oneself) abruptly or violently; to rush or dash.
“And crop-full, out of doors he flings.”
“I see, sir, said I, I see what a man I am with. […] And away I flung, leaving him seemingly vexed, and in confusion.”
“I flung closer to his breast, / As sword that, after battle, flings to sheath.”
- archaic, intransitiveTo throw; to wince; to flounce.
“The horse flung most potently, making his heels fly aloft in the air.”
- intransitive, literaryTo utter abusive language; to sneer.
“The scold began to flout and fling.”
Formsflings(plural) · flings(present, singular, third-person) · flinging(participle, present) · flung(participle, past) · flung(past) · flang(colloquial, dialectal, participle, past) · flang(colloquial, dialectal, past) · flinged(nonstandard, participle, past) · flinged(nonstandard, past) · Flings(plural)