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The Collaborative International Dictionary
To fling off

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.

Usage examples of "to fling off".

They'd just shake their heads to fling off the water and go right on with their furious lives.

At once the angel reared up again, beating his one free wing to fling off the golden monkey.