WordGarden.iofling
A1Pronunciation
UK
- /flˈɪŋ/
US
- /ˈflɪŋ/
Meanings
Verb
to throw or move something suddenly and forcefully
to begin or do something with sudden enthusiasm
Noun
a brief casual romantic or sexual relationship
a short period of doing something enjoyable or indulgent
an act of throwing something forcefully
Beyond the definition
To fling something usually means to throw it with force, often without much care where it lands. A child might fling a toy across the room, or someone might fling open a door in anger. The word is also used for quick, sudden movement, especially when a person throws out an arm, turns their head, or drops something down in frustration. But "fling" is not only about movement. It can also mean a short romantic relationship, like a summer fling. And if someone is flinging money around, they are spending it freely and carelessly.
The word "fling" carries a sense of sudden, impulsive action. At its core, to fling means to throw something with force, usually without aiming carefully. You might picture someone flinging a bag onto a chair, flinging paint onto a canvas, or flinging a dish towel down on the counter in frustration. It often suggests strong feeling or rough energy rather than control. "He flung the door open and stormed out of the room."
The word also works in a wider way for sudden movement. A person can fling their arms around someone, fling back their head in laughter, or fling themselves into an activity with great energy. In these cases, the idea is still the same: a quick, forceful action with little restraint.
A "fling" can also be a brief, casual romantic relationship, often one that is exciting but does not last long. "They had a short fling while on vacation." In another figurative use, if someone is flinging money around or flinging it away, they are spending it recklessly, without thinking much about the future.
So whether it means a forceful throw, a sudden movement, a brief romance, or careless spending, fling usually suggests energy, speed, and a lack of restraint. It is a lively word for actions that happen fast and with feeling.
Examples
- 1
Careless throwing
She flung her bag onto the sofa and sat down.
- 2
Sudden opening
He flung the door open when he heard the alarm.
- Patternfling + object + open
open it very quickly and forcefully
- 3
Affectionate hug
The child ran over and flung her arms around her grandfather.
- 4
Energetic effort
After losing his job, he flung himself into learning new skills.
- Patternfling yourself into + activity
start doing it with a lot of energy
More examplesFewer examples
- 5
Angry speech
During the meeting, she flung a few angry comments at her boss.
- Patternfling + words at someone
say them in an angry, attacking way
- 6
Short romance
They had a brief fling while they were studying abroad.
- 7
Final fun
We went to the beach for one last fling before summer ended.
- Phraseone last fling
one final short period of fun or excitement
See also
Forms and spellings
4 forms open this card.
Main spelling
- flingnounverb
Forms
- flungpast tensepast participleverbnoun
- flinging-ing formverbnoun
- flingspluralnounverb