# fly about

CEFR B2 · Phrasal verb

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/fly-about
Updated: 2026-04-24

## Definition

to move quickly and busily from place to place, or to spread quickly like news or rumors.

For teachers: to move in a hurried or erratic manner across a wide area; also used figuratively to describe the rapid dissemination of information or accusations.

## Examples

- Rumors are starting to fly about the office.
- He spent the whole morning flying about the city trying to finish his errands before the shops closed.
- Accusations of corruption began to fly about as soon as the investigative report was leaked to the national press.

## Pitfalls

- Not "The news fly about quickly." but "The news flies about quickly." — remember to conjugate the verb 'fly' to match the subject; 'news' is an uncountable singular noun.

## Usage notes

- often used with plural subjects like 'rumors', 'insults', or 'accusations'.
- Teaching tip: contrast the literal sense of physical movement with the figurative sense of information spreading; 'fly around' is a common and interchangeable variant.

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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.