kite-flying

A child enjoys kite-flying in the park on a windy day.

Definition

1. Noun:
   • The activity of flying a kite: "kite-flying" refers to the act or practice of sending a kite into the air, typically for recreation or competition.
   • Figurative: testing public opinion: In a metaphorical sense, "kite-flying" means the act of floating an idea or proposal to gauge reactions or gather feedback before making a final decision.
   • Slang: fraudulent financial practice: In commercial or informal usage, "kite-flying" refers to the illegal or unethical practice of obtaining money using fake documents, such as forged checks or fictitious bills of exchange (also known as "kiting").

Usage Examples

• Literal (recreational):
  • Kite-flying is a popular pastime in coastal areas with strong winds. (The activity of flying kites for fun.)
• Figurative (testing opinions):
  • The politician's speech was a piece of kite-flying to see how voters would react to a tax increase. (A trial balloon to test public sentiment.)
• Slang (fraudulent):
  • He was arrested for kite-flying after using a fake promissory note to secure a loan. (Illegal use of false financial documents.)

Advanced Usage

• "Kite-flying as a strategy": In business or politics, a deliberate act of releasing tentative information to observe reactions.
  • The company engaged in kite-flying by leaking a possible merger to the press. (They floated a rumor to assess market response.)
• "Kite-flying in finance": A specific form of check fraud where funds are temporarily borrowed from one account to cover another, often using fake instruments.
  • The accountant's kite-flying scheme collapsed when the bank detected the forged drafts. (A fraudulent practice using false documents.)

Variants and Related Words

• Kite (n): the object flown; also a type of bird; also a fraudulent check or note.
  • The children made a colorful kite for the festival. (The physical object flown.)
  • He passed a kite at the bank to get quick cash. (A slang term for a fake check.)
• Kite-flyer (n): a person who engages in kite-flying, either literally or figuratively.
  • She is an expert kite-flyer, winning competitions every year. (A literal participant.)
  • The journalist was a political kite-flyer, testing rumors in the media. (A figurative user of trial balloons.)
• Kiting (n): a closely related term for the fraudulent financial practice.
  • Check kiting is illegal and can lead to prosecution. (A specific form of financial fraud.)

Synonyms

• Trial balloon: a test of public opinion (figurative sense).
  • The mayor's proposal was just a trial balloon. (A means of testing reactions.)
• Fraudulent check scheme: a financial scam (slang sense).
  • The accountant uncovered a fraudulent check scheme. (A deceptive financial practice.)

Phrasal Verbs

• Fly a kite: to test an idea or opinion (derived from the figurative sense).
  • The CEO decided to fly a kite about the new product line. (To float an idea for feedback.)
• Kite a check: to use a fake or bad check to obtain money temporarily.
  • He tried to kite a check, but the bank rejected it. (To commit check fraud.)

Related Idioms

• Go fly a kite: an informal expression used to dismiss someone or tell them to go away.
  • When he asked for a raise, his boss told him to go fly a kite. (An annoyed dismissal.)
• Fly one's own kite: to pursue one's own interests or agenda without help.
  • She prefers to fly her own kite rather than join a team. (To act independently.)