Can flying fish actually fly?

No, they cannot fly like birds. They propel themselves out of the water and glide on their extended fins, which is a form of powered gliding, not true flight with flapping wings.

Where are flying fish commonly found?

They are most commonly found in warm tropical and subtropical waters of the Atlantic, Pacific, and Indian Oceans.

What do flying fish eat?

Their diet primarily consists of plankton and small crustaceans.

Is 'flying fish' one word or two?

It is a two-word open compound noun, similar to 'polar bear' or 'coffee table'.

Is “flying fish” formal?

Flying fish is usually neutral to semi-formal in register.

How do you pronounce “flying fish”?

Flying fish: in British English it is pronounced /ˌflaɪ.ɪŋ ˈfɪʃ/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˌflaɪ.ɪŋ ˈfɪʃ/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.

flying fish: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples

Low

UK/ˌflaɪ.ɪŋ ˈfɪʃ/US/ˌflaɪ.ɪŋ ˈfɪʃ/

Neutral to Semi-Formal

My Flashcards

Quick answer

What does “flying fish” mean?

A type of marine fish of the family Exocoetidae, characterized by enlarged pectoral fins that allow it to glide above the water's surface to escape predators.

Audio

Pronunciation

Definition

Meaning and Definition

A type of marine fish of the family Exocoetidae, characterized by enlarged pectoral fins that allow it to glide above the water's surface to escape predators.

Used metaphorically to describe something or someone that appears to move effortlessly or escape constraints, or in heraldry as a symbol.

Dialectal Variation

British vs American Usage

Differences

No significant differences in meaning. The term is identical in both varieties.

Connotations

Evokes images of tropical seas, agility, and exotic wildlife.

Frequency

Equally low frequency in both varieties; encountered in nature documentaries, literature, and travel writing.

Grammar

How to Use “flying fish” in a Sentence

[see/observe/watch] a flying fisha flying fish [glides/leaps/escapes]flying fish are [found/inhabit]

Vocabulary

Collocations

strong

school of flying fishgliding flying fishAtlantic flying fishtropical flying fish

medium

watch flying fishsee flying fishlike flying fishobserved the flying fish

weak

beautiful flying fishsmall flying fishfast flying fishsilvery flying fish

Examples

Examples of “flying fish” in a Sentence

noun

British English

We were mesmerised by the flying fish skimming beside the ferry.

American English

The flying fish erupted from the water in a shimmering cloud.

Usage

Meaning in Context

Business

Rare. Potentially in a metaphorical sense for a company or product that 'takes off' unexpectedly.

Academic

Used in marine biology and zoology texts.

Everyday

Used when discussing marine life, holidays, or nature documentaries.

Technical

Used in ichthyology with precise taxonomic classification.

Vocabulary

Synonyms of “flying fish”

Neutral

exocoetid

Weak

gliding fish

Vocabulary

Antonyms of “flying fish”

bottom feedergroundfish

Watch out

Common Mistakes When Using “flying fish”

Using 'fly fish' (which refers to the angling method) instead of 'flying fish'.
Treating it as a verb phrase, e.g., 'The fish was flying' instead of 'It is a flying fish.'

FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions

: No, they cannot fly like birds. They propel themselves out of the water and glide on their extended fins, which is a form of powered gliding, not true flight with flapping wings.
: They are most commonly found in warm tropical and subtropical waters of the Atlantic, Pacific, and Indian Oceans.
: Their diet primarily consists of plankton and small crustaceans.
: It is a two-word open compound noun, similar to 'polar bear' or 'coffee table'.
: A type of marine fish of the family Exocoetidae, characterized by enlarged pectoral fins that allow it to glide above the water's surface to escape predators.
: Flying fish is usually neutral to semi-formal in register.
: Flying fish: in British English it is pronounced /ˌflaɪ.ɪŋ ˈfɪʃ/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˌflaɪ.ɪŋ ˈfɪʃ/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.

Learning

Memory Aids

Mnemonic

Think of a fish with wings (fins) that are FLYING through the air.

Conceptual Metaphor

ESCAPE IS FLIGHT; FREEDOM IS LEAVING THE WATER.

Practice

Quiz

Fill in the gap

To escape the pursuing dolphin, the launched itself into the air and glided for over fifty metres.

Multiple Choice

What is the primary function of a flying fish's 'flight'?