What does the phrase a fly on the wall mean?
phrasespoken. DEFINITIONS1. to be able to watch what people are doing without them noticing you. I’d love to be a fly on the wall when they find out.
What does the idiom on the fly mean?
In a hurry, on the run, as in I picked up some groceries on the fly. The transfer of this expression, which literally means “in midair or in flight,” dates from the mid-1800s.
Where does the saying a fly on the wall come from?
This is an American phrase that originated there in the 1920s. The first citation of it that I can find is from The Oakland Tribune, February 1921: “I’d just love to be a fly on the wall when the Right Man comes along.”
What does the idiom up the wall mean?
: to make (someone) irritated, angry, or crazy Your constant tapping is driving me up the wall!
How do you use fly on the wall in a sentence?
— What I would have given to have been a fly on the wall when the director fired the receptionist. — I’d love to be a fly on the wall when the admissions officer reads my application. — The directors of all went into the conference room emergency meeting. I’d love to be a fly on the wall right now.
Is fly on the wall on Snapchat real?
Cheaters and To Catch a Cheater have long been lambasted as being scripted, but those involved with the show have maintained that the scenarios are 100 percent genuine. At least Fly on the Wall doesn’t shy away from the fact that it’s pretty much done strictly for the camera.
Is on the fly an idiom?
On the fly is an idiom that seems to have originated in the United States. Often using descriptive imagery or metaphors, common idioms are words and phrases used in the English language in order to convey a concise idea, and are often spoken or are considered informal or conversational.
Is fly on the wall real or fake?
Watching documentaries is an act of engagement in a way that’s similar to observational filmmaking. The so-called fly on the wall documentary is a fiction.
What does dropping like flies idiom mean?
Definition of drop like flies : to become ill or die over a short period of time and in large numbers Horses and cattle dropped like flies during the drought.
What is the meaning off the wall?
Definition of off-the-wall : highly unusual : bizarre an off-the-wall sense of humor.
How do you fly on a wall?
If you say that you would like to be a fly on the wall on an occasion, you mean that you would like to hear what will be said or see what will happen while not being noticed: I’d love to be a fly on the wall when those two get home!