FLAT BROKE, FLY-BY-NIGHT, FLY IN THE FACE OF (SOMETHING): American English Idioms #74

FLAT BROKE

The phrase “flat broke” is an idiom used to describe someone who has no money left. This term is typically used in the context of someone who has lost all their money and cannot afford basic living expenses, such as food or housing.

Flat broke means having no money at all, to the point where it is difficult to even buy food. Found in the expression “flat broke,” this phrase is typically used when someone has reached their limit and can’t go any further.

Flat broke is an idiom meaning to not have any money or funds, often used when one has spent all their money. The term originated in the United States in the 1920s and was derived from the countless people who lost their homes during this era. It can also be used to refer to someone who does not have any money for gas (e.g., “I’m flat broke; I had to walk here”).

A person is flat broke when they do not have money at all. This is very common for college students who are struggling to make it on the limited amount of money they get from their parents.

FLY-BY-NIGHT

A fly by night idiom, as described by Webster’s dictionary, is a metaphor used to describe someone or something that’s not reliable, such as a company whose business practices may be considered shady.

The meaning behind the idiom “fly by night” is to be a person who does not have a reputable background and cannot be relied on in any situation. Although this phrase is often used in a negative connotation, it can also represent a naïve or inexperienced individual just starting out in their field.

A fly-by-night idiom is a phrase which means “a person who has no scruples and lives by their wits; a scoundrel or knave.” This term can be found in the 18th century, as mentioned in the Oxford English Dictionary. The term is historically used for people who ran away from their debts and stole goods to sell at lower prices than they were worth.

A “fly by night” idiom refers to an individual or business that is not reliable. For example, they do things quickly and without caution. This includes leaving the scene of an accident without reporting it, closing a business before paying employees back, or refusing to pay debts.

FLY IN THE FACE OF (SOMETHING)

The idiom “fly in the face of something” is often used to indicate that someone is doing something that contradicts an authority or violates some other strong norm. An example of this could be a person who smokes despite warnings from doctors and government officials.

To fly in the face of something is to go against it, to oppose it. To use complex jargon, to fly in the face of something is to work against it as a result of its complexity.

When it comes to the face of something, it means to oppose or confront someone. Fly-in-the-face-of can also be used to describe a situation where an individual is acting in defiance of their superiors. For example, if I wanted to fly in the face of my boss by refusing to work another day, this would be considered very bad form on my part.

To “fly in the face of something” is to do something that is against the rules or expectations set by someone else. For example, if an individual reports a problem with their boss to a supervisor, this would be flying in the face of the boss.

The idiomatic expression “to fly in the face of something” can be interpreted as being to defy or oppose someone or something, but not necessarily with hostile intent.