catch flies
The idiom "catch flies" has multiple meanings, primarily related to having one's mouth open or causing distraction.
πΊπΈ US Voice:
π¬π§ UK Voice:
Definition
B2General
(informal, idiomatic)To have one's mouth wide open for a prolonged period, often due to amazement or inattentiveness.
Example
- Close your mouth, or you'll catch flies!
C1Theater
(informal, idiomatic)For an actor to distract the audience by moving or gesturing when the focus should be elsewhere.
Example
- The director warned him not to catch flies during the performance.
Similar
Terms that have similar or relatively close meanings to "catch flies":
fly uponforest flydance flyfly bywet flyfly outdeer flyfly offcatch itstable flylet flyfly in the buttermilkvinegar flybat awayfly a kitecatch stepfly linefruit flycatch and releasefly lowfly sheetfish upcatch the sunon the flyfly balldrain flya closed mouth catches no fliescum catcherflying fishfly high