fling

[ fling ]

verb (used with object)

, flung [fluhng], fling·ing.

1. to throw, cast, or hurl with force or violence:

   to fling a stone.

2. to move (oneself ) violently with impatience, contempt, or the like:

   She flung herself angrily from the room.

3. to put suddenly or violently:

   to fling a suspect into jail.

4. to project or speak sharply, curtly, or forcefully:

   He flung his answer at the questioner.

5. to involve (oneself ) vigorously in an undertaking.
6. to move, do, or say (something) quickly:

   to fling a greeting in passing.

7. to send suddenly and rapidly:

   to fling fresh troops into a battle.

8. to throw aside or off.
9. to throw to the ground, as in wrestling or horseback riding.

verb (used without object)

, flung [fluhng], fling·ing.

1. to move with haste or violence; rush; dash.
2. to fly into violent and irregular motions, as a horse; throw the body about, as a person.
3. to speak harshly or abusively (usually followed by out ):

   He flung out disgustedly against the whole human race.

noun

1. an act of flinging.
2. a short period of unrestrained pursuit of one's wishes or desires:

   The week of partying was my last fling before starting a new job.

3. an attempt at something:

   He took a fling at playwriting.

4. a critical or contemptuous remark; gibe.
5. Also called Highland fling. a lively Scottish dance characterized by flinging movements of the arms and legs.

fling

/ flɪŋ /

verb

1. to throw, esp with force or abandon; hurl or toss
2. to put or send without warning or preparation

   to fling someone into jail

3. also intr to move (oneself or a part of the body) with abandon or speed

   he flung himself into a chair

4. usually foll by into to apply (oneself) diligently and with vigour (to)
5. to cast aside; disregard

   she flung away her scruples

6. to utter violently or offensively
7. poetic.
   to give out; emit

noun

1. the act or an instance of flinging; toss; throw
2. a period or occasion of unrestrained, impulsive, or extravagant behaviour

   to have a fling

3. any of various vigorous Scottish reels full of leaps and turns, such as the Highland fling
4. a trial; try

   to have a fling at something different

Derived Forms

• ˈflinger, noun

Other Words From

• outfling verb (used with object) outflung outflinging

Word History and Origins

Origin of fling¹

First recorded in 1250–1300; Middle English; compare Swedish flänga “to fly, race”

Word History and Origins

Origin of fling¹

C13: of Scandinavian origin; related to Old Norse flengja to flog, Swedish flänga , Danish flænge

Idioms and Phrases

In addition to the idiom beginning with fling , also see last fling .

Example Sentences

During one production, shot near a creek where families picnicked, he watched the same depressing scene play out day after day: The adults would drink, gamble, fight and fling empty soju bottles, while the children would catch minnows in the water, occasionally cutting their feet on the broken glass.

From Los Angeles Times

Vance and Musk and their army of Twitter trolls can fling the term "cat lady" around as much as they want, but voting for Trump will not make women en masse give up their jobs to play at being a "tradwife."

From Salon

“Gotham” introduced a sexier version of the character who, for a while, had a fling with James Gordon.

From Salon

That's the old-school style of conspiracy theory, where the theorists fling around names and dates, in hopes it sounds like they are investigating, instead of making it all up.

From Salon

“Anora” gets off on the hormonal rush of their fling, and for a good part of the movie’s 139-minute running time, Baker delights in the exhilaration of their unhinged melody.

From Los Angeles Times