fling
- 01 B2 Upper Intermediate
v.to throw something suddenly and with a lot of force.
v.to hurl or cast something with sudden force or violence. Transitive, requiring a direct object.
Simple“In a fit of anger, he flung his phone across the room.”
In context“The protesters flung stones at the barricades, though their efforts did little to breach the reinforced steel gates.”
- 02 C1 Advanced
v.to move yourself or a part of your body quickly and suddenly.
v.to move oneself or a limb in an abrupt, forceful, or impatient manner. Often used reflexively or with a prepositional phrase.
Simple“She flung herself onto the bed and started to cry.”
In context“Disgusted by the verdict, the defendant flung himself out of the courtroom before the guards could intervene.”
- 03 B2 Upper Intermediate
n.a short sexual or romantic relationship that is not intended to be serious.
n.a brief, casual romantic or sexual relationship, typically characterized by a lack of long-term commitment.
Simple“It was just a summer fling, and they stopped talking once college started.”
In context“She dismissed the encounter as a harmless holiday fling, refusing to let it complicate her professional life back home.”
Antonyms - 04 C2 Proficiency
n.a try at doing something, even if you are not sure you will succeed.
n.an attempt or trial at an activity, often used in the phrase 'have a fling at'.
Simple“Even though she had no experience, she decided to have a fling at acting.”
In context“After years in finance, he decided to have a fling at organic farming, despite his lack of agricultural knowledge.”
From Middle English fling, from the verb (see below). Compare Icelandic flengur (“a fast sprint”).
From Middle English flyngen, from Old Norse flengja (“to whip”), from Proto-Germanic flangijaną (“to beat, whip”), from Proto-Indo-European pleh₂k- (“to beat”), from Proto-Indo-European pleh₂k-, pleh₂g- (“to beat”). Cognate with Icelandic flengja (“to spank”), Norwegian flengja (“to rip, tear, or fling open”).
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.