1859. Punch, vol. XXXVII., p. 54. ‘Essence of Parliament.’ Monday,
25 July. Lord Lyndhurst let fly and caught him what (if pugilistic
terms be not out of place when one is alluding to so pacific a
personage) may be designated an extremely neat one on the conk.
Not a feather to fly with, adv. phr. (common).—Penniless and ruined;
dead-broke (q.v. for synonyms).
To break a fly on a wheel, verb. phr. (colloquial). To make a mountain
of a molehill. Cf., To crack a nut with a Nasmyth hammer = to lavish
force or energy.
The fly on the wheel, subs. phr. (colloquial).—One who fancies himself
of mighty importance. [From the fable.]
I don’t rise to that fly, phr. (common) = I don’t believe you; you
won’t catch me with such bait as that. [From fly-fishing.]
Off the fly, adv. phr. (colloquial).—On the quiet; laid up in dock;
doing nothing: said of a strumpet retired from business, or a man (or
woman) who has given over the pursuit of pleasure.
On the fly, adv. phr. (popular).—1. Walking the streets; out for a lark
(q.v.); off work (q.v.); out on the spree (q.v.).
2. (thieves’).—In motion: e.g., ‘I got in one on the fly’ = I landed a
blow while I was running.
1868. Temple Bar, xxiv., p. 538. I prigged an old woman’s poke on
the fly.
Fly-blow, subs. (common).—A bastard; cf., Bye-blow. A nonce word.
1875. Ouida, Signa, vol. I., ch. viii., p. 140. No doubt that
little fly-blow is his own.
Fly-blown, adj. (common).—1. Intoxicated. For synonyms, see Drinks and
Screwed.
1877. Judy, 18 May, p. 236. The officer assisted the pastor out,
and hinted that he was slightly ‘fly-blown.’
2. (Australian).—Cleaned-out; without a rap; Hard-up (q.v. for
synonyms).
1889. Star, 3 Jan. Our diggers go into Castlemaine to get their
hair cut, and once there, they get on the spree, and come back
fly-blown.