FLY IN THE FACE OF

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

IPA (US):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does fly in the face of mean? 

• FLY IN THE FACE OF (verb)
  The verb FLY IN THE FACE OF has 1 sense:

1. go against

  Familiarity information: FLY IN THE FACE OF used as a verb is very rare.

 Dictionary entry details 

• FLY IN THE FACE OF (verb)

Sense 1

Meaning:

Go against

Classified under:

Verbs of being, having, spatial relations

Synonyms:

fly in the face of; fly in the teeth of

Context example:

This action flies in the face of the agreement

Hypernyms (to "fly in the face of" is one way to...):

break; go against; violate (fail to agree with; be in violation of; as of rules or patterns)

Sentence frame:

Something ----s something

 Context examples 

She could not fly in the face of the gods who permitted him, but that did not prevent her from making life miserable for him in petty ways.

(White Fang, by Jack London)