drop like flies

idiom

informal
: to become ill or die over a short period of time and in large numbers
Horses and cattle dropped like flies during the drought.
The heat was so intense that people were dropping like flies.
often used figuratively
Candidates were dropping like flies during the early part of the campaign.

Examples of drop like flies in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
These examples are automatically compiled from online sources to illustrate current usage. Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Soon destroyed or disabled, other vessels in the 30-odd transport drop like flies. Dennis Harvey, Variety, 31 Jan. 2024 At the beginning, opponents drop like flies. Shannon Liao, CNN, 1 Oct. 2020

Dictionary Entries Near drop like flies

Cite this Entry

“Drop like flies.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/drop%20like%20flies. Accessed 8 Nov. 2024.

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