flies

English

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /flaɪz/

• Audio (US):

  (file)

• Rhymes: -aɪz

Noun

flies

1. plural of fly

Noun

flies pl (plural only)

1. The open area above a stage where scenery and equipment may be hung.
   • 1792, Charles Dibdin, chapter 6, in Hannah Hewit: or, the Female Crusoe‎^[1], volume 1, London: for the author, page 167:

     […] I was born in the dressing-room, suckled in the flies, educated in the lobby, and brought up in the property-room […]

   • 1869, W. S. Gilbert, “Only a Dancing Girl”, in The “Bab” Ballads‎^[2], London: John Camden Hotten, page 25:

     Hung from the “flies” in air,
     She acts a palpable lie,
     She’s as little a fairy there
     As unpoetical I!

   • 1937, Ngaio Marsh, chapter 14, in Vintage Murder‎^[3], New York: Jove Books, published 1978, page 156:

     One of the staff was up in the flies fixing the weight for the mast. The head mechanist and Ted Gascoigne were down below on the stage, having an argument. Suddenly, the gentleman in the flies got all careless and dropped the weight.

Derived terms

• catch flies
• drop like flies
• no flies on

Verb

flies

1. third-person singular simple present indicative of fly

Anagrams

• Files, files, lifes

Old English

Noun

flīes n

1. Alternative form of flēos