fly-by

Friendly

Word: Fly-by

Part of Speech: Noun

Definition: A "fly-by" refers to a flight where an aircraft, often a military one, flies low over an area or group of people on the ground. This is usually done to show off the aircraft or as part of a display.

Usage Instructions:

• Use "fly-by" when talking about aircraft that are flying low over an area, particularly during events or demonstrations.
• It is often used in contexts related to air shows, military exercises, or special celebrations.

Example:

• "During the air show, there was an exciting fly-by of fighter jets that amazed the spectators below."

Advanced Usage:

• In a more technical context, "fly-by" can also refer to spacecraft that pass close to a celestial body, like a planet or moon, to gather data or take images.
• Example: "The spacecraft performed a fly-by of Mars to capture detailed photographs of its surface."

Word Variants:

• There are no direct variants of "fly-by," but it can be used in phrases such as "fly-by-night," which means something or someone that is unreliable or temporary.

Different Meanings:

1. Literal Meaning: As explained, it refers to the act of flying low over an area.
2. Figurative Meaning: In a more abstract sense, it can refer to a quick or brief visit or encounter.
   • Example: "Her fly-by visit to the office was just long enough to drop off the reports."

Synonyms:

• Pass-over
• Low pass
• Flyover

Idioms and Phrasal Verbs:

• There aren’t any specific idioms that use “fly-by,” but you may encounter related phrases like "a fly-by night operation," which refers to a business that is not trustworthy or reliable.

Summary:

"Fly-by" is a noun primarily used to describe a low-altitude flight of an aircraft over an area, particularly in a show or demonstration.

Academic

Noun

1. a flight at a low altitude (usually of military aircraft) over spectators on the ground

Synonyms

• flyover
• flypast