flutter
To try hard in defence or pursuit of an object. "I’ll have a FLUTTER for it," means I’ll have a good try for it. Also to toss for anything. Probably from the spinning of the coin.
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flutter in the dovecote
cause a stir or excitement
flutter the dovecote
cause a big commotion
fly
Knowing. Acquainted with another's meaning or proceeding. The rattling cove is fly; the coachman knows what we are about.
fly
Knowing, wide-awake, fully understanding another’s meaning.
fly blind
to proceed without guidance or information
fly by
Recognized English idiom; full definition pending editorial review.
fly by the seat of one's pants
to act or make decisions without a plan
fly low
To avoid attention or scrutiny
fly off
to suddenly leave or become detached
fly off at a tangent
To suddenly change subject or direction in a conversation
fly off the handle
Get angry.
fly off the shelves
To sell very quickly
fly out of the blocks
Start something quickly and energetically
fly out of the traps
Start something quickly and energetically
fly slicers
Life-guard men, from their sitting on horseback, under an arch, where they are frequently observed to drive away flies with their swords.
fly solo
to do something independently without help
fly the flag
Show support or representation for something
fly the kite
Or RAISE THE WIND, to obtain money on bills, whether good or bad, probably in allusion to tossing paper about as children do kites.
fly too close to the sun
Recognized English idiom; full definition pending editorial review.
fly under the radar
To go unnoticed or avoid attention
fly upon
To seize.
fly-boys
Men employed to clear the printed copies from the Hoe machines, on which daily papers are "worked." So called to distinguish them from the "machine boys," a superior grade of labourers who "lay on" the sheets.
fly-by-night
You old fly-by-night; an ancient term of reproach to an old woman, signifying that she was a witch, and alluding to the nocturnal excursions attributed to witches, who were supposed to fly abroad to their meetings, mounted on brooms.
fly-flapped
Whipt in the stocks, or at the cart's tail.
flyer
To take a flyer; to enjoy a woman with her clothes on, or without going to bed.
flying camps
Beggars plying in a body at funerals.
Flying Dutchman
In the superstitions of seamen a spectral ship that is supposed to haunt the southern seas round the Cape of <3ood Hope. She is only to be seen in stormy weather and bodes no good to those who pass her.
flying house
A lock in wrestling, by which he who uses it throws his adversary over his head.
flying mare
A throw in wrestling.
flying mess
"to be in FLYING MESS" is a soldier’s phrase for being hungry and having to mess where he can.
flying pasty
Sirreverence wrapped in paper and thrown over a neighbour's wall.
flying porters
Cheats who obtain money by pretending to persons who have been lately robbed, that they may come from a place or party where, and from whom, they may receive information respecting the goods stolen from them, and demand payment as porters.
Flying Saucers
Alleged mysterious celestial phenomena resembling revolving, partially luminous discs that shoot across the sky at a high velocity and a great height. No feasible explanation has been put foward for these ob- jects, nor has any really authenticated proof been given of their existence.
flying start
To begin something with great success or momentum
flying stationer
A paper-worker, hawker of penny ballads; "Printed for the Flying Stationers" is the imprimatur on hundreds of penny histories and sheet songs of the last and present centuries.
flying stationers
Ballad-singers and hawkers of penny histories.
flying the pigeons
Stealing coals from a cart or sack between the coal-dealer's yard and the house of the customer.
flying visit
Recognized English idiom; full definition pending editorial review.
flymy
Knowing, cunning, roguish.—Seven Dials and Low Life.
fmz
Fanzine.
fob
A cheat, trick, or contrivance, I will not be fobbed off so; I will not be thus deceived with false pretences. The fob is also a small breeches pocket for holding a watch.
fobbed
Old slang for robbed. From FOB, the ancient breeches-pocket for the watch.
focus on somebody
Pay attention to someone
fog a mirror
Recognized English idiom; full definition pending editorial review.
fogey
Old Fogey. A nickname for an invalid soldier: derived from the French word fougeux, fierce or fiery.
fogey
Or OLD FOGEY, a dullard, an old-fashioned or singular person. Grose says it is a nickname for an invalid soldier, from the French fougueux, fierce or fiery, but it has lost this signification now.
fogged out
cancelled or prevented due to fog
fogger
Old word for a huckster.
fogle
A silk handkerchief,
fogle
A silk handkerchief,—not a clout, which is of cotton. It has been hinted that this may have come from the German Vogel, a bird, from the bird’s-eye spots on some handkerchiefs, but a more probable derivation is the Italian slang (Fourbesque), FOGLIA, a pocket, or purse; or from the French Argot, FOUILLE, also a pocket.
fogram
An old fogram; a fusty old fellow.
fogus
Tobacco.
fogus
Tobacco. Tip me a gage of fogus; give me a pipe of tobacco. CANT.
fogus
Tobacco.—Ancient Cant. FOGO, old word for stench.
fold down
To downmix.
fold like a cheap suit
Recognized English idiom; full definition pending editorial review.
fold one's tent
To leave or quit something quietly and without notice
fold out
To depart.
fold under zero pressure
to fail or give up easily