FLY

 

A fly in the ointment Una contrariedad, dificultad, pega, inconveniente

Jack is handsome, intelligent, rich, but the fly in the ointment is that he’s married Jack es guapo, inteligente, rico, pero la pega es que está Casado

— “We enjoyed the play but the fly in the ointment was not being able to find my hat afterward.” McGraw-Hill’s Dictionary of American Idioms, 2006. US.

A fly on the wall Ver por un agujerito

I would like to be a fly on the wall to see her reaction to the news Me gustaría ver por un agujerito la reacción de ella ante las noticia

— “In recent years the term - I don’t know where it originated — the phrase the fly on the wall has come into use, and critics talk about a story as observed by a fly on the wall.” Matthew Bruccolli, Classes on Ernest Hemingway, 2007. US.

Die (fall, drop) like flies Morir (caer) como moscas (chinches)

At Waterloo soldiers died like flies En Waterloo los soldados murieron como moscas

— “So people are dying like flies because typhus is contagious…” Irish Mirror, January 27, 2024. Ire.

Fly a kite Irse a paseo, a hacer puñetas, que te frían un huevo

Don’t bother me. Go fly a kite No me molestes. Vete a paseo

— “Tell them to go and fly a kite.” Daily Mirror Online, February 10, 2024. UK.

Fly-by-night De chicha y nabo (chichinabo), de tres al cuarto

He has a fly-by-night business Tiene un negocio de chicha y nabo

— “But the first reference to a fly-by-night was a superstitious one that described, quite literally, a witch! Because she flew by broom at night, the witch was seen as evil in nature, and up to no good.” Karlen Evins, I didn’t Know That…., 2007. US.

Fly by the seat of one’s pants Hacer algo al buen tuntún, a la buena de Dios

I had no experience, so I flew by the seat f my pants No tenía experiencia, así que lo hice al buen

tuntún

— “I’m a notorious panster, meaning I never plot anything, but prefer to fly by the seat of my pants when I write.” Harpercollins, Instagram, August 4, 2023. US.

Fly in the face (teeth) of Ir en contra, contradecir

That flies in the face of what you said yesterday Es ova en contra de lo que dijiste ayer

— “Does that not completely fly in the face of your commitment…” The BelfastTelegraph, February 22, 2024. UK.

Fly into a rage Montar en cólera

He flew into a rage and broke the vase Montó en cólera y rompió el jarrón

— “… when Cole was woken by the baby monitor, he flew into a rage…” Mirror, January 19, 2024. UK.

Fly off the handle Perder los estribos (los papeles)

Go to the meeting but, please, don’t fly off the handle Ve a la reunion pero por favor, no pierdas los estribos

— “I would fly off the handle if I were either an employee or someone involved in trying to save the company, he said.” Hamilton Journal News, OH - 15 Nov 2003. USA.

Fly (blow) the coop Largarse, ahuecar el ala, levantar el vuelo

They are not here; they have flewn the coop No están aquí; se han largado

— “Over the break, Trump flew the coop.” October 5, 2023. Can.

High-flying De categoría, de altos vuelos

He is a high-flying businessman Es hombre de negocios de categoría

— “… juggling family life with their high-flying careers.” Mirror, June 15, 2024. UK.

No flies on someone No chuparse el dedo, no tener un pelo de tonto

Careful with David, there are no flies on him Cuidado con David, que no se chupa el dedo

— “… to tell a man he's a stitch, a cunning fellow, that there's no flies on him, and he won't let anybody hoodwink him.” F. Dostoievsky, The Double and the Gambler, 2007. US.

Not give a flying fuck No importer un carajo, una mierda

I don’t give a flying fuck what you do No me importa un carajo lo que hagas

— “I don´t give a flying fuck what these racist bigots think.” Daily Excelsior, February 27, 2024. UK.

Not hurt a fly No matar una mosca

Jack is a good man; he wouldn’thurt a fly Jack es un buen hombre y no mataría una mosca

— “They are harmless, really. Wouldn’t hurt a fly.” Monster Party, (COCA), 2018. US.

On the fly En (sobre la) marcha, de cualquier manera, a salto de mata

He doesn’t have a system and he works on the fly No tiene sistema y trabaja de cualquier manera

— “So far, policy is being made on the fly.” Guardian, electronic edition, 1111, London, BNC, 1989. UK.

Pigs can fly Los burros vuelan

Some day, Democrats and Republicans will agree. Yes, and pigs can fly Algún día los demócratas y los republicanos se entenderán. Sí, y los burros vuelan

— “Sure, and the three little pigs can fly.” People, 12/29/2014. US.

Send flying Echar a rodar (perder), mandar por los aires

Victor sent everything flying Víctor lo echó todo a rodar

With flying colors Airoso, con banderas desplegadas

I passed the exam with flying colors Aprobé el examen con banderas desplegadas

— “He did not seem the type, yet he passed his course at Achnacarry with flying colours.” Bill Lewes Millin, Invasion, 1991. UK.