Adjacent Words

Fling definitions

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Webster's 1828 Dictionary

FLING, v.t. pret. and pp. flung. [L. lego legare.]
1. To cast, send or throw from the hand; to hurl; as, to fling a stone at a bird.
Tis fate that flings the dice; and as she flings,
Of kings makes peasants, and of peasants, kings.
2. To dart; to cast with violence; to send forth.
He - like Jove, his lightning flung.
3. To send forth; to emit; to scatter.
Every beam new transient colors flings.
4. To throw; to drive by violence.
5. To throw to the ground; to prostrate.
The wrestler flung his antagonist.
6. To baffle; to defeat; as, to fling a party in litigation.
To fling away, to reject; to discard.
Cromwell, I charge thee, fling away ambition.
1. To fling down, to demolish; to ruin.
2. To throw to the ground.
To fling out, to utter; to speak; as, to fling out hard words against another.
To fling off, to baffle in the chase, to defeat of prey.
To fling in, to throw in; to make an allowance or deduction, or not to charge in an account. In settling accounts, one party flings in a small sum, or a few days work.
To fling open, to throw open; to open suddenly or with violence; as, to fling open a door.
To fling up, to relinquish; to abandon; as, to fling up a design.
FLING, v.i.
1. To flounce; to wince; to fly into violent and irregular motions. The horse began to kick and fling.
2. To cast in the teeth; to utter harsh language; to sneer; to upbraid. The scold began to flout and fling.
To fling out, to grow unruly or outrageous.
FLING, n.
1. A throw; a cast from the hand.
2. A gibe; a sneer; a sarcasm; a severe or contemptuous remark.
I, who love to have a fling,
Both at senate house and king.

WordNet (r) 3.0 (2005)

n
1: a usually brief attempt; "he took a crack at it"; "I gave it a whirl" [syn: crack, fling, go, pass, whirl, offer]
2: a brief indulgence of your impulses [syn: spree, fling]
3: the act of flinging v
1: throw with force or recklessness; "fling the frisbee"
2: move in an abrupt or headlong manner; "He flung himself onto the sofa"
3: indulge oneself; "I splurged on a new TV" [syn: splurge, fling]
4: throw or cast away; "Put away your worries" [syn: discard, fling, toss, toss out, toss away, chuck out, cast aside, dispose, throw out, cast out, throw away, cast away, put away]

Merriam Webster's

I. verb (flung; flinging) Etymology: Middle English, perhaps of Scandinavian origin; akin to Old Norse flengja to whip Date: 14th century intransitive verb 1. to move in a brusque or headlong manner <flung out of the room in a rage> 2. of an animal to kick or plunge vigorously 3. Scottish caper transitive verb 1. a. to throw forcefully, impetuously, or casually <flung herself down on the sofa> <clothes were flung on the floor> b. to cast as if by throwing <flung off all restraint> 2. to place or send suddenly and unceremoniously <was arrested and flung into prison> 3. to give unrestrainedly <flung himself into music> Synonyms: see throw • flinger noun II. noun Date: 1556 1. an act or instance of flinging 2. a. a casual try or involvement b. a casual or brief love affair 3. a period devoted to self-indulgence

Oxford Reference Dictionary

v. & n. --v. (past and past part. flung) 1 tr. throw or hurl (an object) forcefully. 2 refl. a (usu. foll. by into) rush headlong (into a person's arms, a train, etc.). b (usu. foll. by into) embark wholeheartedly (on an enterprise). c (usu. foll. by on) throw (oneself) on a person's mercy etc. 3 tr. utter (words) forcefully. 4 tr. (usu. foll. by out) suddenly spread (the arms). 5 tr. (foll. by on, off) put on or take off (clothes) carelessly or rapidly. 6 intr. go angrily or violently; rush (flung out of the room). 7 tr. put or send suddenly or violently (was flung into jail). 8 tr. (foll. by away) discard or put aside thoughtlessly or rashly (flung away their reputation). 9 intr. (usu. foll. by out) (of a horse etc.) kick and plunge. 10 tr. archaic send, emit (sound, light, smell). --n. 1 an act or instance of flinging; a throw; a plunge. 2 a spell of indulgence or wild behaviour (he's had his fling). 3 an impetuous, whirling Scottish dance, esp. the Highland fling. Phrases and idioms: have a fling at 1 make an attempt at. 2 jeer at. Derivatives: flinger n. Etymology: ME, perh. f. ON

Webster's 1913 Dictionary

Fling Fling, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Flung; p. pr. & vb. n. Flinging.] [OE. flingen, flengen, to rush, hurl; cf. Icel. flengia to whip, ride furiously, OSw. flenga to strike, Sw. fl["a]nga to romp, Dan. flenge to slash.] 1. To cast, send, to throw from the hand; to hurl; to dart; to emit with violence as if thrown from the hand; as, to fing a stone into the pond. 'T is Fate that flings the dice: and, as she flings, Of kings makes peasants, and of peasants kings. --Dryden. He . . . like Jove, his lighting flung. --Dryden. I know thy generous temper well. Fling but the appearance of dishonor on it, It straight takes fire. --Addison. 2. To shed forth; to emit; to scatter. The sun begins to fling His flaring beams. --Milton. Every beam new transient colors flings. --Pope. 3. To throw; to hurl; to throw off or down; to prostrate; hence, to baffle; to defeat; as, to fling a party in litigation. His horse started, flung him, and fell upon him. --Walpole.

Webster's 1913 Dictionary

Fling Fling, v. i. 1. To throw; to wince; to flounce; as, the horse began to kick and fling. 2. To cast in the teeth; to utter abusive language; to sneer; as, the scold began to flout and fling. 3. To throw one's self in a violent or hasty manner; to rush or spring with violence or haste. And crop-full, out of doors he flings. --Milton. I flung closer to his breast, As sword that, after battle, flings to sheath. --Mrs. Browning. To fling out, to become ugly and intractable; to utter sneers and insinuations.

Webster's 1913 Dictionary

Fling Fling, n. 1. A cast from the hand; a throw; also, a flounce; a kick; as, the fling of a horse. 2. A severe or contemptuous remark; an expression of sarcastic scorn; a gibe; a sarcasm. I, who love to have a fling, Both at senate house and king. --Swift. 3. A kind of dance; as, the Highland fling. 4. A trifing matter; an object of contempt. [Obs.] England were but a fling Save for the crooked stick and the gray goose wing. --Old Proverb. To have one's fling, to enjoy one's self to the full; to have a season of dissipation. --J. H. Newman. ``When I was as young as you, I had my fling. I led a life of pleasure.'' --D. Jerrold.

Collin's Cobuild Dictionary

(flings, flinging, flung) 1. If you fling something somewhere, you throw it there using a lot of force. The woman flung the cup at him... He once seized my knitting, flinging it across the room. VERB: V n prep/adv, V n prep/adv 2. If you fling yourself somewhere, you move or jump there suddenly and with a lot of force. He flung himself to the floor. VERB: V pron-refl prep/adv 3. If you fling a part of your body in a particular direction, especially your arms or head, you move it there suddenly. She flung her arms around my neck and kissed me. = throw VERB: V n prep/adv 4. If you fling someone to the ground, you push them very roughly so that they fall over. The youth got him by the front of his shirt and flung him to the ground. VERB: V n prep/adv 5. If you fling something into a particular place or position, you put it there in a quick or angry way. Peter flung his shoes into the corner... VERB: V n prep/adv 6. If you fling yourself into a particular activity, you do it with a lot of enthusiasm and energy. She flung herself into her career... VERB: V pron-refl into n 7. If two people have a fling, they have a brief sexual relationship. (INFORMAL) She claims she had a brief fling with him 30 years ago. = affair N-COUNT: oft N with n 8. Fling can be used instead of 'throw' in many expressions that usually contain 'throw'.

Soule's Dictionary of English Synonyms

I. v. a. 1. Throw, cast, hurl, toss, dart, pitch, flirt, chuck, shy. 2. Prostrate, overthrow, throw to the ground, throw down. II. v. n. 1. Flounce, wince, fly into violent motions. 2. Start or rush angrily, flounce. 3. Jeer, sneer, gibe, flout, upbraid. III. n. 1. Throw, cast, toss. 2. Jeer, gibe, flout, scoff, sneer, taunt.

Moby Thesaurus

approach, assay, attempt, bash, bat, bender, bid, binge, boil, bolt, bout, bowl, bung, bust, career, carousal, carouse, cast, cast at, catapult, celebration, change of pace, change-up, charge, chase, chuck, chuck at, chunk, clap, crack, curve, dart, dash, debauch, downcurve, drinking bout, effort, endeavor, escapade, essay, experiment, fastball, fire, fire at, fling at, flip, fork, forward pass, gambit, gamble, go, haste, hasten, heave, heave at, hie, hump, hump it, hurl, hurl against, hurl at, hurry, hurtle, incurve, indulgence, jerk, knuckleball, lance, lark, lash, lateral, lateral pass, launch, let fly, let fly at, lick, lob, make haste, move, offer, orgy, outcurve, party, pass, peg, pelt, pitch, pitchfork, plank, plop, ploy, plump, plunk, pop, post, propel, put, put the shot, race, rampage, randan, randy, revel, risk, rush, scamper, scoot, scour, scramble, screwball, scud, scurry, scuttle, send, serve, service, shoot, shot, shot-put, shy, shy at, sinker, skedaddle, slap, slider, sling, sling at, snap, spitball, spitter, splurge, spree, stab, stagger, step, step on it, stroke, strong bid, tear, tentative, throw, throw at, thrust, tilt, toot, toss, toss at, trial, trial and error, try, undertaking, upcurve, venture, whack, whirl, wingding