Friday, July 31, 2009
Come on everyone, what on earth does the expression 'No flies on me!' actually mean. I'll give you a pony!
Answers:
I believe it is an Australian expression.I found this on the net and the meaning stated is very similiar to how my family use the expression..Dear Word Detective: Over Thanksgiving, I was sitting at the table next to my aunt, who was dandling my young cousin on her knee. After a particularly sharp comment on my cousin's part, my aunt laughed and remarked that my cousin had "no flies on her," whereupon my cousin glanced at her shirt to check for the aforementioned flies. This caused me to realize that this phrase doesn't seem to quite make sense when you think about it. Flies are known to hang around filth, so you'd think that saying someone had "no flies on them" would mean they were particularly sweet-smelling or dapper, rather than precociously clever. Yet that is the sense I've always heard the phrase used. Any light to shed, Mr. Detective? -- Colleen Sullivan, via the internet.
The insect we know as a "fly" is, of course, so-called because it flies, and both the noun "fly" and the verb "to fly" are very old, dating back to Indo-European roots. Interestingly, the root of the verb "to fly" originally denoted only rapid motion, not necessarily through the air, and also gave us our modern English words "fleet," "flow" and "flood."
Meanwhile, back at your perceptive niece, to say that "there are no flies on" someone does indeed mean that the person is sharp, on the ball, and paying attention. The phrase dates back to the mid-19th century (in the form "no flies about," meaning "no flies buzzing around"), and arose either in the U.S. or Australia. While it is true that flies are attracted by places that are, shall we say, less than spotlessly clean, in this case the metaphor has a different logic. The comparison was to a horse or cow that was sufficiently active and mobile that flies never had a chance to congregate around it. So to say that there are "no flies on" a person means that he or she isn't just sitting there staring into space like a torpid cow.
means you don't stink i think.
Flies only like one thing. A fresh steamy pile of s**t. You work out the rest!!
it means you are sharp , quick, you have not stagnated
It means you dont stay around long enough for any to land on you..i think..and thanks for fifty quid..oh and 2 points xx
It means you are a lot cleverer than most on PetQnA.com
well flies are attracted to what.?
thats right , sh1t.
no flies on me = I am not sh1t.
It either means you dont stink, your not s**t or possibly your not stupid enough to let flies stay on you without wafting them off, like some animals do.
Don't quote me on this but I think it may have something to do with the fact that when you're not paying attention flies often land on you, same as when you're dead! Why on earth would you think of such a question?!
This is a copy of the answer from the word-detective where you will find research on a lot of saying. Very interesting site. O, thanks but no thanks on the pony.
"Flies with that?
Dear Word Detective: Over Thanksgiving, I was sitting at the table next to my aunt, who was dandling my young cousin on her knee. After a particularly sharp comment on my cousin's part, my aunt laughed and remarked that my cousin had "no flies on her," whereupon my cousin glanced at her shirt to check for the aforementioned flies. This caused me to realize that this phrase doesn't seem to quite make sense when you think about it. Flies are known to hang around filth, so you'd think that saying someone had "no flies on them" would mean they were particularly sweet-smelling or dapper, rather than precociously clever. Yet that is the sense I've always heard the phrase used. Any light to shed, Mr. Detective? -- Colleen Sullivan, via the internet.
A flea and a fly in a flue were imprisoned, so what could they do? Said the fly, "Let us flee!" Said the flea, "Let us fly!" So they fled through a flaw in the flue.
OK, that ancient bit of doggerel has absolutely nothing to do with your question, but I was hoping that by reciting it in print I'd be able to stop it from running through my mind. It didn't work.
The insect we know as a "fly" is, of course, so-called because it flies, and both the noun "fly" and the verb "to fly" are very old, dating back to Indo-European roots. Interestingly, the root of the verb "to fly" originally denoted only rapid motion, not necessarily through the air, and also gave us our modern English words "fleet," "flow" and "flood."
Meanwhile, back at your perceptive niece, to say that "there are no flies on" someone does indeed mean that the person is sharp, on the ball, and paying attention. The phrase dates back to the mid-19th century (in the form "no flies about," meaning "no flies buzzing around"), and arose either in the U.S. or Australia. While it is true that flies are attracted by places that are, shall we say, less than spotlessly clean, in this case the metaphor has a different logic. The comparison was to a horse or cow that was sufficiently active and mobile that flies never had a chance to congregate around it. So to say that there are "no flies on" a person means that he or she isn't just sitting there staring into space like a torpid cow."
I believe it relates to you are alert and constantly aware of whats going on around you implying you are always moving around and not sitting still hence giving flies a chance to settle on you.
Well, my understanding is that flies go to *. Hence if you have flies around you, your *, if you have ' No flies on me' your not *. Simple
it is an expression from way back in the day when your grandpa was working the fields and you as the grandson didnt want to help.
grandpa basically said that grandson was lazy
no flies on me -- meant i am too busy for the flies to land on me -- sun up to sun down grandpa was busy nonstop while the grandson was lazy all the day.
It means you are quick witted, alert and active. It can be traced to the cattle ranches of both America and Australia and is first recorded during the mid 1800s. Quite simply the lively, active cattle and horses attracted few flies that preferred to settle on the slow, sluggish animals who would stay still for the longest period of time. RED HERRINGS and WHITE ELEPHANTS is a good book to get as it gives the origins of everyday phrases we use. The Author is Albert Jack. Hope this helps.
To say that "there are no flies on me" someone does indeed mean that they are sharp, on the ball, and paying attention. The phrase dates back to the mid-19th century (in the form "no flies about," meaning "no flies buzzing around"), and arose either in the U.S. or Australia. While it is true that flies are attracted by places that are, shall we say, less than spotlessly clean, in this case the metaphor has a different logic. The comparison was to a horse or cow that was sufficiently active and mobile that flies never had a chance to congregate around it. So to say that there are "no flies on" a person means that he or she isn't just sitting there staring into space like a torpid c*w.
i don't stink..
I THINK IT MEANS YOU GET A LOT OF FLIES ON * AND THINGS THAT STAND STILL,HENCE TOO QUICK TO BE CAUGHT,I MAY BE WRONG BUT THATS THE WAY WE USED TO INTERPRET IT IN THE MILITARY.
It means they think on their feet .
hence fly dont have time to land on them
Ha if I answered I'd have to give you a pony.
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