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Eat vs. Fly — What's the Difference?

Eat vs. Fly — What's the Difference?

Difference Between Eat and Fly

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Eat

Put (food) into the mouth and chew and swallow it
Eat up all your peas
He was eating a hot dog
She watched her son as he ate

Fly

Flies are insects of the order Diptera, the name being derived from the Greek δι- di- "two", and πτερόν pteron "wing". Insects of this order use only a single pair of wings to fly, the hindwings having evolved into advanced mechanosensory organs known as halteres, which act as high-speed sensors of rotational movement and allow dipterans to perform advanced aerobatics.

Eat

Light food or snacks
These make great party eats

Fly

To move through the air by means of wings or winglike parts.

Eat

To take into the body by the mouth for digestion or absorption.
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Fly

To travel by air
We flew to Dallas.

Eat

To take in and absorb as food
A plant that eats insects.
A cell that eats bacteria.

Fly

To operate an aircraft or spacecraft.

Eat

To include habitually or by preference in one's diet
A bird that eats insects, fruit, and seeds.
Stopped eating red meat on advice from her doctor.

Fly

To rise in or be carried through the air by the wind
A kite flying above the playground.

Eat

To destroy, ravage, or use up by or as if by ingesting
"Covering news in the field eats money" (George F. Will).

Fly

To float or flap in the air
Pennants flying from the masthead.

Eat

To erode or corrode
Waves that ate away the beach.
An acid that eats the surface of a machine part.

Fly

To move or be sent through the air with great speed
Bullets flying in every direction.
A plate that flew from my hands when I stumbled.

Eat

To produce by eating
Moths ate holes in our sweaters.

Fly

To move with great speed; rush or dart
The children flew down the hall.

Eat

(Slang) To absorb the cost or expense of
"You can eat your loss and switch the remaining money to other investment portfolios" (Marlys Harris).

Fly

To be communicated to many people
Rumors are flying about their breakup.

Eat

(Informal) To bother or annoy
What's eating him?.

Fly

To flee; escape.

Eat

Vulgar slang To perform cunnilingus or anilingus on. Often used with out.

Fly

To hasten; spring
Flew to her students' defense.

Eat

To consume food.

Fly

To pass by swiftly
A vacation flying by.

Eat

To have or take a meal.

Fly

To be dissipated; vanish
All his money has flown.

Eat

To exercise a consuming or eroding effect
A drill that ate away at the rock.
Exorbitant expenses that were eating into profits.

Fly

Past tense and past participle flied (flīd) Baseball To hit a fly ball.

Eat

To cause persistent annoyance or distress
"How long will it be before the frustration eats at you?" (Howard Kaplan).

Fly

To shatter or explode
The dropped plate flew into pieces.

Eat

To ingest; to be ingested.

Fly

To become suddenly emotional, especially angry
The driver flew into a rage.

Eat

(ambitransitive) To consume (something solid or semi-solid, usually food) by putting it into the mouth and swallowing it.
He's eating an apple. / Don't disturb me now; can't you see that I'm eating?

Fly

(Informal) To gain acceptance or approval; go over
"However sophisticated the reasoning, this particular notion may not fly" (New York Times).

Eat

(intransitive) To consume a meal.
What time do we eat this evening?

Fly

To cause to fly or float in the air
Fly a kite.
Fly a flag.

Eat

To be eaten.
It's a soup that eats like a meal.

Fly

(Nautical) To operate under (a particular flag)
A tanker that flies the Liberian flag.

Eat

To have a particular quality of diet; to be well-fed or underfed (typically as "eat healthy" or "eat good").

Fly

To pilot (an aircraft or spacecraft).

Eat

To use up.

Fly

To carry or transport in an aircraft or spacecraft
Fly emergency supplies to a stricken area.

Eat

To destroy, consume, or use up.
This project is eating up all the money.

Fly

To pass over or through in flight
Flew the coastal route in record time.

Eat

To consume (an exception, an event, etc.) so that other parts of the program do not receive it.

Fly

To perform in a spacecraft or aircraft
Flew six missions into space.

Eat

To damage, destroy, or fail to eject a removable part or an inserted object.
The VHS recorder just ate the tape and won't spit it out.
John is late for the meeting because the photocopier ate his report.

Fly

To flee or run from
Fly a place in panic.

Eat

To consume money (or other instruments of value, such as a token) deposited or inserted by a user, while failing to either provide the intended product or service or return the payment.
The video game in the corner just ate my quarter.

Fly

To avoid; shun
Fly temptation.

Eat

To cause (someone) to worry.
What's eating you?

Fly

The act of flying; flight.

Eat

To take the loss in a transaction.

Fly

The opening, or the fastening that closes this opening, on the front of a pair of pants.

Eat

To be injured or killed by (something such as a firearm or its projectile), especially in the mouth.

Fly

The flap of cloth that covers this opening.

Eat

(ambitransitive) To corrode or erode.
The acid rain ate away the statue.
The strong acid eats through the metal.

Fly

A piece of protective fabric secured over a tent and often extended over the entrance.

Eat

To perform oral sex (on a person or body part).
Eat me!
I ate his ass.
Yeah, eat that dick / eat that pussy.

Fly

A flyleaf.

Eat

To be very good; to rule; to rock.
You ate that performance!

Fly

(Baseball) A fly ball.

Eat

(colloquial) Something to be eaten; a meal; a food item.

Fly

(Sports) In swimming, butterfly.

Eat

To chew and swallow as food; to devour; - said especially of food not liquid; as, to eat bread.
They . . . ate the sacrifices of the dead.
The lean . . . did eat up the first seven fat kine.
The lion had not eaten the carcass.
With stories told of many a feat,How fairy Mab the junkets eat.
The island princes overboldHave eat our substance.
His wretched estate is eaten up with mortgages.

Fly

The span of a flag from the staff to the outer edge.

Eat

To corrode, as metal, by rust; to consume the flesh, as a cancer; to waste or wear away; to destroy gradually; to cause to disappear.

Fly

The outer edge of a flag.

Eat

To take food; to feed; especially, to take solid, in distinction from liquid, food; to board.
He did eat continually at the king's table.

Fly

A flywheel.

Eat

To taste or relish; as, it eats like tender beef.

Fly

Flies The area directly over the stage of a theater, containing overhead lights, drop curtains, and equipment for raising and lowering sets.

Eat

To make one's way slowly.

Fly

Chiefly British A one-horse carriage, especially one for hire.

Eat

Take in solid food;
She was eating a banana
What did you eat for dinner last night?

Fly

Any of numerous two-winged insects of the order Diptera, especially any of the family Muscidae, which includes the housefly.

Eat

Eat a meal; take a meal;
We did not eat until 10 P.M. because there were so many phone calls
I didn't eat yet, so I gladly accept your invitation

Fly

Any of various other flying insects, such as a caddisfly.

Eat

Take in food; used of animals only;
This dog doesn't eat certain kinds of meat
What do whales eat?

Fly

A fishing lure simulating something a fish eats, such as a mayfly or a minnow, made by attaching materials such as feathers, tinsel, and colored thread to a fishhook.

Eat

Use up (resources or materials);
This car consumes a lot of gas
We exhausted our savings
They run through 20 bottles of wine a week

Fly

Chiefly British Mentally alert; sharp.

Eat

Worry or cause anxiety in a persistent way;
What's eating you?

Fly

(Slang) Fashionable; stylish.

Eat

Cause to deteriorate due to the action of water, air, or an acid;
The acid corroded the metal
The steady dripping of water rusted the metal stopper in the sink

Fly

(zoology) Any insect of the order Diptera; characterized by having two wings (except for some wingless species), also called true flies.

Fly

(non-technical) Especially, any of the insects of the family Muscidae, such as the common housefly (other families of Diptera include mosquitoes and midges).

Fly

Any similar, but not closely related insect, such as a dragonfly or butterfly.

Fly

(fishing) A lightweight fishing lure resembling an insect.

Fly

(weightlifting) A chest exercise performed by moving extended arms from the sides to in front of the chest. (also flye)

Fly

(swimming) The butterfly stroke (plural is normally flys).

Fly

(obsolete) A witch's familiar.

Fly

(obsolete) A parasite.

Fly

(preceded by definite article) A simple dance in which the hands are shaken in the air, popular in the 1960s.

Fly

(finance) A butterfly (combination of four options).

Fly

(obsolete) The action of flying; flight.

Fly

An act of flying.
There was a good wind, so I decided to give the kite a fly.

Fly

(baseball) A fly ball.

Fly

(American football) fly route

Fly

A piece of canvas that covers the opening at the front of a tent.

Fly

The sloping or roof part of the canvas of a tent.

Fly

(often plural) A strip of material (sometimes hiding zippers or buttons) at the front of a pair of trousers, pants, underpants, bootees, etc.
Ha-ha! Your flies are undone!

Fly

The free edge of a flag.

Fly

The horizontal length of a flag.

Fly

(weightlifting) An exercise that involves wide opening and closing of the arms perpendicular to the shoulders.

Fly

The part of a vane pointing the direction from which the wind blows.

Fly

(nautical) That part of a compass on which the points are marked; the compass card.

Fly

Two or more vanes set on a revolving axis, to act as a fanner, or to equalize or impede the motion of machinery by the resistance of the air, as in the striking part of a clock.

Fly

(historical) A type of small, light, fast horse-drawn carriage that can be hired for transportation (sometimes pluralised flys).

Fly

In a knitting machine, the piece hinged to the needle, which holds the engaged loop in position while the needle is penetrating another loop; a latch..

Fly

The pair of arms revolving around the bobbin, in a spinning wheel or spinning frame, to twist the yarn.

Fly

(weaving) A shuttle driven through the shed by a blow or jerk.

Fly

The person who took the printed sheets from the press.

Fly

A vibrating frame with fingers, attached to a power printing press for doing the same work.

Fly

One of the upper screens of a stage in a theatre.

Fly

(cotton manufacture) waste cotton

Fly

A wing.
The bullet barely grazed the wild fowl's fly.

Fly

(intransitive) To travel through the air, another gas, or a vacuum, without being in contact with a grounded surface.
Birds of passage fly to warmer regions as it gets colder in winter.
The Concorde flew from Paris to New York faster than any other passenger airplane.
It takes about eleven hours to fly from Frankfurt to Hong Kong.
The little fairy flew home on the back of her friend, the giant eagle.

Fly

To flee, to escape (from).
Fly, my lord! The enemy are upon us!

Fly

To cause to fly travel or float in the air: to transport via air or the like.
Charles Lindbergh flew his airplane The Spirit of St. Louis across the Atlantic ocean.
Why don’t you go outside and fly kites, kids? The wind is just perfect.
Birds fly their prey to their nest to feed it to their young.
Each day the postal service flies thousands of letters around the globe.

Fly

(intransitive) To travel or proceed very fast; to hasten.
He flew down the hill on his bicycle.
It's five o'clock already. Doesn't time fly?

Fly

(intransitive) To move suddenly, or with violence; to do an act suddenly or swiftly.
A door flies open
A bomb flies apart

Fly

(intransitive) To proceed with great success.
His career is really flying at the moment.
One moment the company was flying high, the next it was on its knees.

Fly

To be accepted, come about or work out.
Let's see if that idea flies.
You know, I just don't think that's going to fly. Why don't you spend your time on something better?

Fly

To display (a flag) on a flagpole.

Fly

(transitive) To hunt with a hawk.

Fly

To be in the winged adult stage.
This species flies from late summer until frost.

Fly

To hit a fly ball; to hit a fly ball that is caught for an out. Compare ground (verb) and line (verb).
Jones flied to right in his last at-bat.

Fly

Quick-witted, alert, mentally sharp.

Fly

(slang) Well dressed, smart in appearance; in style, cool.
He's pretty fly.

Fly

(slang) Beautiful; displaying physical beauty.

Fly

To move in or pass through the air with wings, as a bird.

Fly

To move through the air or before the wind; esp., to pass or be driven rapidly through the air by any impulse.

Fly

To float, wave, or rise in the air, as sparks or a flag.
Man is born unto trouble, as the sparks fly upward.

Fly

To move or pass swiftly; to hasten away; to circulate rapidly; as, a ship flies on the deep; a top flies around; rumor flies.
Fly, envious Time, till thou run out thy race.
The dark waves murmured as the ships flew on.

Fly

To run from danger; to attempt to escape; to flee; as, an enemy or a coward flies. See Note under Flee.
Fly, ere evil intercept thy flight.
Whither shall I fly to escape their hands ?

Fly

To move suddenly, or with violence; to do an act suddenly or swiftly; - usually with a qualifying word; as, a door flies open; a bomb flies apart.

Fly

To cause to fly or to float in the air, as a bird, a kite, a flag, etc.
The brave black flag I fly.

Fly

To fly or flee from; to shun; to avoid.
Sleep flies the wretch.
To fly the favors of so good a king.

Fly

To hunt with a hawk.

Fly

To manage (an aircraft) in flight; as, to fly an aëroplane.

Fly

Any winged insect; esp., one with transparent wings; as, the Spanish fly; firefly; gall fly; dragon fly.

Fly

A hook dressed in imitation of a fly, - used for fishing.

Fly

A familiar spirit; a witch's attendant.
A trifling fly, none of your great familiars.

Fly

A parasite.

Fly

A kind of light carriage for rapid transit, plying for hire and usually drawn by one horse.

Fly

The length of an extended flag from its staff; sometimes, the length from the "union" to the extreme end.

Fly

The part of a vane pointing the direction from which the wind blows.

Fly

That part of a compass on which the points are marked; the compass card.

Fly

Two or more vanes set on a revolving axis, to act as a fanner, or to equalize or impede the motion of machinery by the resistance of the air, as in the striking part of a clock.

Fly

The piece hinged to the needle, which holds the engaged loop in position while the needle is penetrating another loop; a latch.

Fly

The pair of arms revolving around the bobbin, in a spinning wheel or spinning frame, to twist the yarn.

Fly

A shuttle driven through the shed by a blow or jerk.

Fly

Formerly, the person who took the printed sheets from the press.

Fly

The outer canvas of a tent with double top, usually drawn over the ridgepole, but so extended as to touch the roof of the tent at no other place.

Fly

One of the upper screens of a stage in a theater.

Fly

The fore flap of a bootee; also, a lap on trousers, overcoats, etc., to conceal a row of buttons.

Fly

A batted ball that flies to a considerable distance, usually high in the air; also, the flight of a ball so struck; as, it was caught on the fly. Also called fly ball.

Fly

Waste cotton.

Fly

Knowing; wide awake; fully understanding another's meaning.

Fly

Two-winged insects characterized by active flight

Fly

Flap consisting of a piece of canvas that can be drawn back to provide entrance to a tent

Fly

An opening in a garment that is closed by a zipper or buttons concealed by a fold of cloth

Fly

(baseball) a hit that flies up in the air

Fly

Fisherman's lure consisting of a fishhook decorated to look like an insect

Fly

Travel through the air; be airborne;
Man cannot fly

Fly

Move quickly or suddenly;
He flew about the place

Fly

Fly a plane

Fly

Transport by aeroplane;
We fly flowers from the Caribbean to North America

Fly

Cause to fly or float;
Fly a kite

Fly

Be dispersed or disseminated;
Rumors and accusations are flying

Fly

Change quickly from one emotional state to another;
Fly into a rage

Fly

Pass away rapidly;
Time flies like an arrow
Time fleeing beneath him

Fly

Travel in an airplane;
She is flying to Cincinnati tonight
Are we driving or flying?

Fly

Display in the air or cause to float;
Fly a kite
All nations fly their flags in front of the U.N.

Fly

Run away quickly;
He threw down his gun and fled

Fly

Travel over (an area of land or sea) in an aircraft;
Lindbergh was the first to fly the Atlantic

Fly

Hit a fly

Fly

Decrease rapidly and disappear;
The money vanished in las Vegas
All my stock assets have vaporized

Fly

(British informal) not to be deceived or hoodwinked

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