1876. Miss Braddon, Dead Men’s Shoes, ch. lii. ‘Go and fetch the cleverest police officer in Liverpool, and let him wait outside this door till I want him.’ ‘I’m fly,’ answers the youth, brightening at the prospect of excitement and remuneration. ‘Case of ’bezzlement, I suppose, Sir?’ 1877. Five Years’ Penal Servitude, ch. ii., p. 125. A certain prisoner, who was what is termed a very fly man, i.e., a clever, scheming fellow ... sounded him as to getting tobacco and other matters. 188(?). Jenny Hill, Broadside Ballad. I’ve cut my wisdom teeth, some at top, some underneath.... So you needn’t try it on; I’m fly. 1890. Punch, 30 Aug., p. 9. Briggs, Junior, a lobsculler called me; I wasn’t quite fly to his lay. 1891. Licensed Victuallers’ Gazette, 9 Jan. If you get among a fly lot, why they’d skin you in less than no time. 2. (common).—Dextrous. 1834. Ainsworth, Rookwood, bk. III., ch. v. No dummy hunter had forks so fly. 1839. Reynolds, Pickwick Abroad, p. 223. We’ll knap a fogle with fingers fly. 3. (venery).—Wanton. Fly-girl, -woman, or -dame = a prostitute. 1888. San Francisco News Letter, 4 Feb. ‘I’m just gettin’ sick’n tired o’ the way ’t them fly dames go on, ’n the way ’t the fellahs hang round ’em ’n dance with ’em ’n so forth.’ Verb. (thieves’).—1. To toss; to raise; to fly the mags = to toss up half-pence (cf., subs., sense 4). 1857. Snowden, Magistrates’ Assistant, 3rd ed., p. 447. To lift a window, to fly a window. 2. (pugilistic).—To give way: as, china flies in the baking. 1865. G. F. Berkeley, My Life, II. 296. Heenan ... told me his right hand was worth nothing to him, and we have since seen that his left flies, or, in other words, becomes puffed, softened, or severely damaged by the force of his own blows. To fly around, verb. phr. (American).—To bestir oneself; to make haste. Also to fly around and tear one’s shirt. 1851. Hooper, Widow Rugby’s Husband, p. 44. Old ’ooman, fly around, git somethin’ for the Squire and Dick to eat. To fly the flag, verb. phr. (colloquial).—1. To walk the streets. 2. (vulgar).—To experience the menstrual flux. See also Flag. To fly high (or rather high).—1. verb. phr. (common).—To get, or be drunk. For synonyms, see Drinks and Screwed. 2. (colloquial).—To keep the best company, maintain the best appearances, and affect the best aims: i.e., to be a High-flier (q.v.). Also, to venture for the biggest stakes in the biggest way. To fly low, verb. phr. (colloquial).—To make as little of oneself as possible; to sing small (q.v.); and (among thieves) to keep out of the way when wanted (q.v.). To fly off the handle, verb. phr. (American pioneer).—To lose temper; to fail of a promise; to jilt; to die; also to slip off the handle (q.v.); to disappoint in any way. [In pioneer life for an axe to part company with its handle is a serious trial to temper and patience.]