fly n.5
1. the act of tossing a coin; esp. in a game of ‘two-up’.
![[Aus]](/static/img/flags/aus.png "Australia") | ‘The Crusaders’ in Chisholm (1951) 81: I got a bit of pelf, / An’ thort I’d like to take a little fly. | |
| (con. 1941) Gunner 297: I’ll have a fly for a quid. |
2. in fig. use, a try, a ‘go’; esp. as give it a fly
| ‘Jim’s Girl’ in Digger Smith 68: You ’ave a fly; yeh’re sure to score. | |
| Working Bullocks 129: ‘Might give him a fly,’ Red admitted. | |
| (con. 1941) Gunner 297: I’ll have a fly for a quid. |
In phrases
(Aus.) to give something a try.
| Truth (Sydney) 28 Oct. 1/2: I’ll never have another ‘fly’ / btween the ropes for gonce and gore. | |
| ‘The Battle of the Wazzir’ in Moods of Ginger Mick [unpub. unrevised proof version] An’ they wouldn’t be Australian ’less they give the game a fly . . . | |
| (con. WWI) Gloss. of Sl. [...] in the A.I.F. 1921–1924 (rev. t/s) n.p.: give it a fly. To make the attempt, to try a certain course of action. | |
| Cobbers 19: They come in for miles, some of ’em, to give it a fly. | |
| Lucky Palmer 75: We’re playing with their dough, dear [...] Might as well give it a fly. | |
| Come in Spinner (1960) 322: I’d come in with yer fifty-fifty if you’d give it a fly. | |
| I’m a Jack, All Right 66: I’m prepared to give you a fly for a day or so. |
(mainly Aus.) to have a try, to make an attempt.
| Mercury (Hobart, Tas.) 30 Sept. 3/4: [from Daily News, London] After conducting them solves with perfect propriety [...] as domestic servants, they will suddenly leave their places and resume their old habits, or, in their own slang, ‘have a fly’. | |
| Bulletin (Sydney) 12 Dec. 44/2: I d’no ’ow ’e goes on stump jerkin’. ’E’ll ’ave a cut at it, though. ’E’s one ’o these ’ere coves ’e’d ’ave a fly at anythink. | |
| diary 1 Nov. 🌐 Latest rumor – we may have a fly at Salonica. | |
| Popular Dict. Aus. Sl. | |
| Burnt Ones 152: Provided it is not you [...] who are having a fly at doing good, I shall not worry all that much. |