fly -drive ADJ [ADJ n] On a fly-drive holiday, you travel part of the way to your destination by aeroplane, and collect a hired car at the airport so that you can drive the rest of the way. □ …a fly-drive break in New Zealand.
fly|er /fla I ə r / (flyers ) also flier
1 N‑COUNT A flyer is a pilot of an aircraft.
2 N‑COUNT You can refer to someone who travels by aeroplane as a flyer . □ …regular business flyers. □ …nervous fliers.
3 N‑COUNT A flyer is a small printed notice which is used to advertise a particular company, service, or event.
4 → see also high-flyer
fly -fishing also fly fishing N‑UNCOUNT Fly-fishing is a method of fishing in which a silk or nylon model of a small winged insect is used as bait.
fly|ing /fla I I ŋ/
1 ADJ [ADJ n] A flying animal has wings and is able to fly. □ …species of flying insects.
2 PHRASE If someone or something gets off to a flying start , or makes a flying start , they start very well, for example in a race or a new job. □ Advertising revenue in the new financial year has got off to a flying start.
fly |ing do c|tor (flying doctors ) N‑COUNT A flying doctor is a doctor, especially in Australia, who travels by aircraft to visit patients who live in distant or isolated areas.
fly |ing fish (flying fish or flying fishes ) N‑VAR Flying fish are a type of fish that live in warm seas. They have large fins that enable them to move forward in the air when they jump out of the water.
fly |ing sau |cer (flying saucers ) N‑COUNT A flying saucer is a round, flat object which some people say they have seen in the sky and which they believe to be a spacecraft from another planet. [OLD-FASHIONED ]
Fly |ing Squad N‑PROPER [with sing or pl verb] The Flying Squad is a group of police officers who are always ready to travel quickly to the scene of a serious crime. [BRIT ]
fly |ing vi s|it (flying visits ) N‑COUNT A flying visit is a visit that only lasts a very short time.
fly|leaf /fla I liːf/ (flyleaves ) N‑COUNT The flyleaf of a book is a page at the front that has nothing printed on it, or just the title and the author's name.
fly -on-the-wa ll
1 ADJ [ADJ n] A fly-on-the-wall documentary is made by filming people as they do the things they normally do, rather than by interviewing them or asking them to talk directly to the camera. □ …a fly-on-the-wall documentary about the Queen's life.
2 a fly on the wall → see fly
fly|over /fla I oʊvə r / (flyovers )
1 N‑COUNT A flyover is a structure which carries one road over the top of another road. [BRIT ] in AM, use overpass 2 N‑COUNT A flyover is the same as a flypast . [AM ]
fly|past /fla I pɑːst, -pæst/ (flypasts ) also fly-past N‑COUNT A flypast is a flight by a group of aircraft in a special formation which takes place on a ceremonial occasion or as a display. [BRIT ] in AM, use flyover
fly|weight /fla I we I t/ (flyweights ) N‑COUNT A flyweight is a boxer who weighs 112 pounds or less.
fly|wheel /fla I h wiːl/ (flywheels ) N‑COUNT A flywheel is a heavy wheel that is part of some engines. It regulates the engine's rotation, making it operate at a steady speed.
FM /e f e m/ FM is a method of transmitting radio waves that can be used to broadcast high quality sound. FM is an abbreviation for 'frequency modulation'.
FMCG /e f em siː dʒiː / (FMCGs ) N‑COUNT FMCGs are inexpensive products that people usually buy on a regular basis, such as supermarket foods or toiletries. FMCG is an abbreviation for 'fast-moving consumer goods'. [BUSINESS ]
foal /foʊ l/ (foals , foaling , foaled )
1 N‑COUNT A foal is a very young horse.
2 VERB When a female horse foals , it gives birth. □ [V ] The mare is due to foal today.
foam /foʊ m/ (foams , foaming , foamed )
1 N‑UNCOUNT Foam consists of a mass of small bubbles that are formed when air and a liquid are mixed together. □ The water curved round the rocks in great bursts of foam.
2 N‑VAR Foam is used to refer to various kinds of manufactured products which have a soft, light texture like a thick liquid. □ …shaving foam.
3 N‑VAR Foam or foam rubber is soft rubber full of small holes which is used, for example, to make mattresses and cushions. □ …modern three-piece suites filled with foam rubber. □ We had given him a large foam mattress to sleep on.
4 VERB If a liquid foams , it is full of small bubbles and keeps moving slightly. □ [V ] I let the water run into it and we watched as it foamed and bubbled. □ [V -ing] …ravines with foaming rivers rushing through them.
foamy /foʊ mi/ ADJ A foamy liquid has a mass of small bubbles on its surface or consists of a mass of bubbles. □ …foamy waves. □ Whisk the egg whites until they are foamy but not stiff.
fob /fɒ b/ (fobs , fobbing , fobbed ) N‑COUNT In former times, a fob was a short chain or piece of cloth which fastened a man's watch to his clothing.
▸ fob off PHRASAL VERB If someone fobs you off , they tell you something just to stop you asking questions. [DISAPPROVAL ] □ [V n P ] I've asked her about it but she fobs me off. □ [be V -ed P + with ] Don't be fobbed off with excuses.