PhrasesHub

Dropping like flies

    Definitions

      • sudden and significant decrease or loss
        Describing a situation where a large number of people or things are quickly and unexpectedly dying or disappearing.

      • quickly falling down or collapsing
        Referring to a group of people who are all falling or collapsing at the same time, often from exhaustion or fatigue.

    Examples of Dropping like flies

    • The flu season has hit our office hard. Yesterday, three of our coworkers called in sick, and today two more have followed suit. It's like we're dropping like flies around here.

      The idiom "dropping like flies" is used to describe a situation where people are getting sick or leaving quickly in large numbers. The phrase "dropping like flies" implies that people are falling ill or leaving abruptly in rapid succession, much like flies falling to the ground in quick succession. This idiom is often used to describe a sudden and unexpected increase in the number of people getting sick or leaving a particular place.


    Conclusion

    The idiom "dropping like flies" is commonly used to describe a situation where there is a sudden and significant decrease or loss. This can refer to a large number of people or things dying or disappearing quickly and unexpectedly. It can also describe a group of people who are all falling or collapsing at the same time, often from exhaustion or fatigue.

    This idiom is often used in a figurative sense and can be used to describe various scenarios. For example, it may be used to describe a sports team that is losing players due to injuries or a business that is losing employees due to layoffs. It can also be used to describe a group of insects or animals that are dying in large numbers due to a natural disaster or disease.

    Origin of "Dropping like flies"

    The origin of the idiom "dropping like flies" is not entirely clear, but it is believed to have originated in the early 1900s. It is thought to have originated from the sudden and mass death of actual flies, which was a common occurrence during that time due to poor sanitation and hygiene practices.

    The idiom gained popularity during World War II, where it was used to describe the high casualty rates of soldiers in battle. It has since become a widely used phrase in both spoken and written English, and is often used in news headlines and everyday conversations. Its catchy and vivid imagery makes it a memorable and relatable phrase for describing a sudden and significant decrease or loss.