Definition of "fling"

When I was as young as you, I had my fling. I led a life of pleasure.

1838, Douglas William Jerrold, Men of Character

"I am inclined to go and have a fling with them. Why not all of us — just for a minute or two — it will not detain us long?"

1891, Thomas Hardy, Tess of the d'Urbervilles, volume 1, London: James R. Osgood, McIlvaine and Co., page 23

Here again steam is having its last fling, and the "dual link" drivers at Brunswick shed, Liverpool, already are alternating steam and diesel duties.

1960 February, Cecil J. Allen, “Locomotive Running Past and Present”, in Trains Illustrated, page 113

I, who love to have a fling, / Both at senate house and king.

c. 1732, Jonathan Swift, Epistle to a Lady

England were but a fling / Save for the crooked stick and the grey goose wing.

ante 1800, old proverb

And crop-full, out of doors he flings.

a. 1645, John Milton, “L’Allegro”, in Poems of Mr. John Milton, […], London: […] Ruth Raworth for Humphrey Mosely, […], published 1646

I see, sir, said I, I see what a man I am with. […] And away I flung, leaving him seemingly vexed, and in confusion.

1748, [Samuel Richardson], “Letter CXIII”, in Clarissa. Or, The History of a Young Lady: […], volumes (please specify |volume=I to VII), London: […] S[amuel] Richardson; […]

I flung closer to his breast, / As sword that, after battle, flings to sheath.

1856, Elizabeth Barrett Browning, “(please specify either |book=1 to 9 or the page)”, in Aurora Leigh, London: Chapman and Hall, […], published 1857

"We beseech your Majesty—" said Glozelle, but Miraz had flung out of the tent and they could hear him bawling out his acceptance to Edmund.

1951, C. S. Lewis, Prince Caspian: The Return to Narnia

'Tis Fate that casts the Dice, and as she flings,Of Kings makes Pedants, and of Pedants Kings.

1693, Decimus Junius Juvenalis, Charles Dryden, transl., “[The Satires of Decimus Junius Juvenalis.] The Seventh Satyr”, in The Satires of Decimus Junius Juvenalis. Translated into English Verse. […] Together with the Satires of Aulus Persius Flaccus. […], London: Printed for Jacob Tonson […]

I know thy generous temper well. / Fling but the appearance of dishonour on it, / It straight takes fire.

1712 (date written), [Joseph] Addison, Cato, a Tragedy. […], London: […] J[acob] Tonson, […], published 1713, Act I, scene i, page 1

Wilkinson was struggling, sending the re-start straight into touch and flinging a pass the same way, and France then went close to the first try of the contest as Clerc took a long pass out on the left and was just bundled into touch by the corner flag.

2011, Tom Fordyce, Rugby World Cup 2011: England 12-19 France‎

Signalman Bridges was killed by the blast, as was fireman Nightall. Amazingly, driver Gimbert came round some 200 yards away, on the grass outside the Station Hotel where he had been flung.

2022 January 12, Benedict le Vay, “The heroes of Soham...”, in RAIL, number 948, page 43

The horse flung most potently, making his heels fly aloft in the air.

1836, Helen Crocket, The Ettrick Shepherd's Last Tale