take a flyer

Hello, you have come here looking for the meaning of the word take a flyer. In DICTIOUS you will not only get to know all the dictionary meanings for the word take a flyer, but we will also tell you about its etymology, its characteristics and you will know how to say take a flyer in singular and plural. Everything you need to know about the word take a flyer you have here. The definition of the word take a flyer will help you to be more precise and correct when speaking or writing your texts. Knowing the definition oftake a flyer, as well as those of other words, enriches your vocabulary and provides you with more and better linguistic resources.

English

Alternative forms

Pronunciation

Verb

take a flyer (third-person singular simple present takes a flyer, present participle taking a flyer, simple past took a flyer, past participle taken a flyer)

  1. Used other than figuratively or idiomatically: see take,‎ flyer.
  2. (idiomatic) To invest against odds.
    • 1906, O. Henry, Man About Town:
      The oldest girls are eagerly perusing the financial reports, for a certain young man remarked last Sunday night that he had taken a flyer in Q., X. & Z.
  3. (idiomatic) To make a choice with an uncertain outcome; to take a chance.
    • 1997, Edward Greenspon, “Following the Trail of Campaign '97”, in Alan Frizzell, Jon H. Pammett, editors, The Canadian General Election of 1997, Dundurn Press, →ISBN, page 36:
      Many voters said that while they liked Reform, they remembered having taken a flyer on Bob Rae and the NDP, a gamble they had come to regret.
    • 2002, Bill Hybels, Courageous Leadership, Zondervan, published 2002, →ISBN:
      In contrast, other leaders are almost totally risk-averse. They haven't taken a flyer in their adult life.
    • 2006, Dan Matthews, Marsha Collier, Starting a Business on eBay.co.uk for Dummies, John Wiley & Sons, published 2006, →ISBN:
      If you have an auction with no bids and a counter that reads a high number, newbie bidders may be dissuaded from taking a flyer and bidding on your auction.
    • 2009, Lew Freedman, Dick Hoak, Pittsburgh Steelers: The Complete Illustrated History, MBI Publishing, published 2009, →ISBN, page 112:
      The Steelers essentially took a flyer on Brister since his track record consisted of one season leading a college team.

Synonyms

Translations