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). [[44]]
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.