flying fuck, n. — Green’s Dictionary of Slang

flying fuck n.

also flying fling, ...frijole, ...one, ...shit

an all-purpose negative expression; usu. in comb., e.g. (not) give a flying fuck.

[1845		T. Rowlandson Pretty Little Games (1872) plate vi: Well mounted on a mettled steed, / Famed for his strength as well as speed, / Corinna and her favourite buck / Are pleased to have a flying f—k].
1926		L. Nason Chevrons 73: I’d tell ’em to take a flyin’ fling at the moon.
1932		B. Hecht Scarface [film script] ‘They said you could take a flyin’....’ ‘Okay, okay.’.
1952		J. Jones From Here to Eternity (1998) 535: I don’t give a flying f-- what anybody says.
1965		H.S. Thompson letter 18 Sept. in Proud Highway (1997) 540: I don’t give a flying fuck who cares or doesn’t care about my status situation.
1978		R. Price Ladies’ Man (1985) 235: I don’t give a flying fuck about nobody.
1980		A. Maupin More Tales of the City (1984) 56: You couldn’t give a flying fuck about those babies.
1987		‘Joe Bob Briggs’ Joe Bob Goes to the Drive-In 141: Who give a a flying frijole anyway?
1998		J. Lansdale Rumble Tumble 19: I don’t give a flyin’ shit your name’s God.
1998		J. O’Connor Salesman 323: ‘I think you’re after mixin’ me up with someone else here.’ ‘With who?’ ‘With someone who gives a flying fuck about you. That’s who.’.
1999		K. Sampson Powder 488: Keva did not give a flying one what anybody back home said.
2005		M.B. ‘Chopper’ Read Chopper 4 45: Who gives a flying shit about the judges.
2006		P. Carey Theft 23: Butcher Bones gave not a flying fuck about the puppy.
2012		(con. 1980s) I. Welsh Skagboys 134: Or mibbe [...] he couldnae gie a flying fuck aboot either ay yis.
2016		V. McDermid Out of Bounds (2017) 193: ‘I don’t give a flying fuck who you sleep with’.
2018		C. Hammer Scrublands [ebook] ‘He didn’t give a flying fuck about me’.
2019		D. Winslow Border [ebook] ‘[Y]ou didn’t give a flying fuck about the families of people who’ve ODed on the smack you launder’.
2021		C. Hammer Opal Country 236: ‘I don’t give a flying fuck about Big Deal Delaney’.
2024		C. Stella Joey Piss Pot 296: ‘Before you tell me they just lost a sister, let me be frank and say I don’t give a flying fuck’.

In phrases

take a flying fuck (v.) (also take a flying fling, ...jump, ...leap)

(orig. US) a derisory, dismissive phr.; also ext. by ...at a galloping goose! ...at a rolling doughnut! ...at a rubber duck! ...at the moon! ... at yourself!

1823		[C.M. Westmacott] Mammon in London 1 66: ‘Would you mind [...] undertaking a flying leap through the window?’].
1900		Bulletin (Sydney) 6 Oct. 32/2: We didn’t care for him at graft, and Alec’d tell him to take a flyin’ jump at himself as soon as look at him; we did pretty well as we liked.
1926		(con. 1918) L. Nason Chevrons 73: I’d tell ’em all to take a flyin’ fling at the moon.
1932		(con. 1910s) J.T. Farrell Young Lonigan in Studs Lonigan (1936) 118: So I tells them they could all take a fast and furious, flyin’, leapin’ jump at Sandy Claus.
1935		H. McCoy They Shoot Horses, Don’t They? (UK edn only) 44: ‘I told you to keep your mouth shut, didn’t I?’ he said to Gloria. ‘You take a flying ----’.
1935		J. Conroy World to Win 64: Go take a flyin’ jump at a gallopin’ goose fer all o’me. T’ hell wi’ ya and yer jocker, too.
1935		S. Kingsley Dead End Act II: Yeah? Well, go take a flyin’ jump at ta moon!
1946		D. Stivens Courtship of Uncle Henry 48: ‘What the hell are you doing there? You ought to give a man more room.’ ‘You go and take a jump at yourself.’.
1951		D. Dressler Parole Chief 110: ‘Why don’t you go take a flying leap and — yourself.’.
1956		in E. Cray Erotic Muse (1992) 337: If you’re ever in Gibraltar, take a flying fuck at Walter. / Can you do the double shuffle when your balls hang low?
1956		E. Hunter ‘The Last Spin’ Jungle Kids (1967) 160: Listen, they don’t like it, they can take a flying leap.
1960		I. Freeman Out of the Burning (1961) 13: ‘Oh take a flying leap at the moon!’ I said.
1976		N. Thornburg Cutter and Bone (2001) 152: Oh, go take a flying leap, will you?
1977		(con. 1949) J.G. Dunne True Confessions (1979) 119: Jim said, I could go take a flying fuck, you’ll excuse the expression.
1979		(con. 1949) J. Hurling Boomers 133: I [...] just told him to take a flyin’ fuck at a rollin’ doughnut.
1983		S. King Christine 354: If they look hot, tell him to take a flying fuck at a rolling doughnut.
1985		‘Thommo’ Dict. Aus. Swearing & Sex Sayings 61: GO TAKE A FLYING FUCK AT A ROLLING DOUGHNUT — No matter how much you have tried to convince your mates that the story you are telling is true and correct. If they think it is utter bullshit, they will tell you exactly where to go.
1991		M. Myers et al. Wayne’s World [film script] Garth: You know what you can do with your show, Wayne? [...] You can take a flying...