To break a fly on a wheel, verb. phr. (colloquial). To make a mountain of a molehill. Cƒ., To crack a nut with a Nasmyth hammer = to lavish force or energy.
The fly on the wheel, subs. phr. (colloquial).—One who fancies himself of mighty importance. [From the fable.]
I don't rise to that fly, phr. (common) = I don't believe you; you won't catch me with such bait as that. [From fly-fishing.]
Off the fly, adv. phr. (colloquial).—On the quiet; laid up in dock; doing nothing: said of a strumpet retired from business, or a man (or woman) who has given over the pursuit of pleasure.
On the fly, adv. phr. (popular).—1. Walking the streets; out for a LARK (q.v.); OFF WORK (q.v.); out on the SPREE (q.v.).
2. (thieves')—In motion: eg., 'I got in one ON THE FLY' = I landed a blow while I was running.
1868. Temple Bar, xxiv., p. 538. I prigged an old woman's poke ON THE FLY.
Fly-blow, subs. (common).—A bastard; cƒ., Bye-blow. A nonce word.
1875. Ouida, Signa, vol. I., ch. viii., p. 140. No doubt that little FLY-BLOW is his own.
Fly-blown, adj. (common).—1. Intoxicated. For synonyms, see Drinks and Screwed.
1877. Judy, 18 May, p. 236. The officer assisted the pastor out, and hinted that he was slightly 'FLY-BLOWN.'
2. (Australian).—Cleaned-out; without a rap; Hard-up (q.v. for synonyms).
1889. Star, 3 Jan. Our diggers go into Castlemaine to get their hair cut, and once there, they get on the spree, and come back FLY-BLOWN.
3. (common).—Used, or done-up; WASHED-OUT (q.v.).
4. (venery).—Deflowered. Also STALE (q.v.); 'known for a wanton.' Also suspected of disease.
Fly-by-Night, subs. (old).—1. A sedan chair on wheels; a usage of the Regency days.
2. (common).—A defaulting debtor; one who SHOOTS THE MOON (q.v.). Also applied to the act.
3. (venery).—A prostitute. See Bat, and for synonyms, Barrack-hack and Tart.
4. (common).—A noctambulist for business or for pleasure: i.e., a burglar or a common SPREESTER (q.v.).
5. (obsolete).—A term of opprobrium.
1796. Grose, Dict. of the Vulgar Tongue (3rd ed.), s.v. An ancient term of reproach to an old woman, signifying that she was a witch, and alluding to the nocturnal excursions attributed to witches who were supposed to fly abroad to their meetings mounted on brooms.
6. (venery).—The female pudendum. For synonyms, see Monosyllable.
Fly-cage, subs. (venery).—The female pudendum. For synonyms, see Monosyllable.
Fly-catcher, subs. (venery).—1. The female pudendum. For synonyms, see Monosyllable.
