Drop like flies, to
To collapse rapidly, often referring to a group rather than an individual. Picture a horde of flies succumbing to insecticide—dropping in unison. This phrase has been applied to people stricken by gunfire, disease, or any sort of mass catastrophe. Even Shakespeare captured the essence of mass disappearance in Henry VI, Part 2, declaring, “The common people swarm like summer flies.”
Related and Similar Terms
- Fall like dominoes: A chain reaction of collapse or failure.
- Go down like a lead balloon: Something that fails spectacularly.
- Hold like a wet paper bag: Something that falls apart easily.
- Fall through the cracks: To be forgotten or neglected in a group.
Synonyms
- Collapse
- Succumb
- Perish en masse
- Drop dead
Antonyms
- Flourish
- Thrive
- Prevail
- Endure
Humor-Filled Quotes:
- “We were dropping faster than my WiFi on a rainy day.”
- “The marketing campaign dropped like flies, or as I call it, a Tuesday.”
Proverbs:
- “Better to fall with grace than to drop like a rock.”
- “A fallen tree attracts petioles like flies to honey.”
Literature Suggestions:
- The Plague by Albert Camus 🐀
- Love in the Time of Cholera by Gabriel García Márquez 😷
- The Stand by Stephen King ⛺
Song Suggestions:
- “Another One Bites the Dust” by Queen 🎸
- “We Will Rock You” by Queen 🎤
- “Eleanor Rigby” by The Beatles 🎻 (It’s sad but worth the metaphor of loneliness).
Movie Suggestions:
- Contagion (2011) 🦠
- War of the Worlds (2005) 👽
- Titanic (1997) 🚢
### Which of these idioms means the same as "drop like flies"?
- [x] Fall like dominoes
- [ ] Float like feathers
- [ ] Rise like a phoenix
- [ ] Stand like statues
> **Explanation:** "Fall like dominoes" is the correct idiom, meaning that things are collapsing or failing sequentially, similar to "drop like flies."
### What does the idiom "drop like flies" refer to?
- [ ] Individual bravery
- [ ] Group perseverance
- [x] Group collapse
- [ ] Individual growth
> **Explanation:** The idiom "drop like flies" refers to the rapid collapse of people in a group, similar to how flies fall in swarms.
### True or False: The phrase "drop like flies" has been used since Shakespeare's time
- [x] True
- [ ] False
> **Explanation:** True! The notion of "like flies" has existed since Shakespeare's era, though the specific idiom "drop like flies" emerged later, reinforcing mass falls or failures.
### Pick the real scenario for "drop like flies."
- [x] Soldiers falling in battle
- [ ] Fireflies lighting up the night
- [ ] Applause at a concert
- [ ] Books on a bookshelf
> **Explanation:** "Drop like flies" often describes somber scenarios like soldiers falling in battle or people succumbing to an illness.
Until we meet again, always aim to flourish and thrive. If you must drop, drop some knowledge along the way!
🌟 Penelope Paradox
