fly like a rock
In real, traceable use. Part of the curated seed collection; community review is coming.
Meaning · English
to travel through the air with little or no benefit from aerodynamic lift
Where it’s used:
Used
American English
Examples
If the wings aren't big enough, your paper airplane will fly like a rock.
Usage example from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-07-30)
Sources & notes
Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-07-30 via kaikki.org).
Common questions
What does “fly like a rock” mean?
to travel through the air with little or no benefit from aerodynamic lift
Is “fly like a rock” formal or informal?
No register label has been reviewed yet — treat it as neutral and check the usage notes above.