Fling — Defs

01 v. t. To cast, send, to throw from the hand; to hurl; to dart; to emit with violence as if thrown from the hand; as, to fing a stone into the pond.

imp. & p. p. Flung; p. pr. & vb. n. Flinging

1.
To cast, send, to throw from the hand; to hurl; to dart; to emit with violence as if thrown from the hand; as, to fing a stone into the pond.
“'T is Fate that flings the dice: and, as she flings, Of kings makes peasants, and of peasants kings.” — Dryden.

“He . . . like Jove, his lighting flung.” — Dryden.

“I know thy generous temper well. Fling but the appearance of dishonor on it, It straight takes fire.” — Addison.
2.
To shed forth; to emit; to scatter.
“The sun begins to fling His flaring beams.” — Milton.

“Every beam new transient colors flings.” — Pope.
3.
To throw; to hurl; to throw off or down; to prostrate; hence, to baffle; to defeat; as, to fling a party in litigation.
“His horse started, flung him, and fell upon him.” — Walpole.

“Cromwell, I charge thee, fling away ambition.” — Shak.

“This question so flung down before the guests, . . . Was handed over by consent of all To me who had not spoken.” — Tennyson.

02 v. i. To throw; to wince; to flounce; as, the horse began to kick and fling.

1.
To throw; to wince; to flounce; as, the horse began to kick and fling.
2.
To cast in the teeth; to utter abusive language; to sneer; as, the scold began to flout and fling.
3.
To throw one's self in a violent or hasty manner; to rush or spring with violence or haste.
“And crop-full, out of doors he flings.” — Milton.

“I flung closer to his breast, As sword that, after battle, flings to sheath.” — Mrs. Browning.

Phrases & compounds

To fling out — to become ugly and intractable; to utter sneers and insinuations.

03 n. A cast from the hand; a throw; also, a flounce; a kick; as, the fling of a horse.

1.
A cast from the hand; a throw; also, a flounce; a kick; as, the fling of a horse.
2.
A severe or contemptuous remark; an expression of sarcastic scorn; a gibe; a sarcasm.
“I, who love to have a fling, Both at senate house and king.” — Swift.
3.
A kind of dance; as, the Highland fling.
4.
A trifing matter; an object of contempt.[Obs.]
“England were but a fling Save for the crooked stick and the gray goose wing.” — Old Proverb.
5.
a short period during which one indulges one's wishes, whims, or desires in an unrestrained manner.
6.
a love affair.
7.
a casual or brief attempt to accomplish something.[informal]
8.
a period during which one tries a new activity; as, he took a fling at playing tennis.

Phrases & compounds

To have one's fling — to enjoy one's self to the full; to have a season of dissipation.

Syn. shot.