# fly out of the traps

idiom

Source: https://englishreference.com/idiom/fly-out-of-the-traps
Updated: 2026-08-10

## Meaning

to start quickly.

## Examples

- The team flew out of the traps at the start of the game.
- She flew out of the traps when the project began, finishing her first report in just two hours.
- The young athlete flew out of the traps, immediately establishing a commanding lead that left the rest of the competitors struggling to catch up.

## Origin

The idiom refers to the start of a greyhound race, where the dogs are released from a row of enclosed starting stalls known as traps. The mechanism allows for a simultaneous opening of the gates, ensuring the animals depart at a sudden, high velocity.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.