on the fly

O o

Definitions of on the fly words

verb without object on the fly to move through the air using wings. 1
verb without object on the fly to be carried through the air by the wind or any other force or agency: bits of paper flying about. 1
verb without object on the fly to float or flutter in the air: flags flying in the breeze. 1
verb without object on the fly to travel in an aircraft or spacecraft. 1
verb without object on the fly to move suddenly and quickly; start unexpectedly: He flew from the room. 1
verb without object on the fly to change rapidly and unexpectedly from one state or position to another: The door flew open. 1

before 900

One of the 4% oldest English words

before 900; Middle English flīen, Old English flēogan; cognate with Old High German fliogan, German fliegen, Old Norse fljuga

noun

adjective

verb

adverb

pronoun

preposition

conjunction

determiner

exclamation

A common word. It’s meaning is known to most children of preschool age. About 99% of English native speakers know the meaning and use the word.

Most Europeans know this English word. The frequency of it’s usage is somewhere between "mom" and "screwdriver".

This diagram is provided by Google Ngram Viewer