What is "to fling about"

Fling \Fling\ (fl[i^]ng), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Flung (fl[u^]ng); p. pr. & vb. n. Flinging.] [OE. flingen, flengen, to rush, hurl; cf. Icel. flengia to whip, ride furiously, OSw. flenga to strike, Sw. fl["a]nga to romp, Dan. flenge to slash.]

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. To fling about, to throw on all sides; to scatter. To fling away, to reject; to discard. Cromwell, I charge thee, fling away ambition. --Shak. To fling down.

   1. To throw to the ground; esp., to throw in defiance, as formerly knights cast a glove into the arena as a challenge.

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

   2. To overturn; to demolish; to ruin.

      To fling in, to throw in; not to charge in an account; as, in settling accounts, one party flings in a small sum, or a few days' work.

      To fling off, to baffle in the chase; to defeat of prey; also, to get rid of.
      --Addison.

      To fling open, to throw open; to open suddenly or with violence; as, to fling open a door.

      To fling out, to utter; to speak in an abrupt or harsh manner; as, to fling out hard words against another.

      To fling up, to relinquish; to abandon; as, to fling up a design.