wouldn't hurt a fly

idiom

: to be too gentle to want to hurt anyone

He looks big and dangerous, but he wouldn't hurt a fly.

Examples of wouldn't hurt a fly in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Matt Murphy: From all outward appearances Rodney Alcala was a handsome, charming, smart young man -- that wouldn't hurt a fly. —

Peter Van Sant, CBS News, 14 May 2024

Cite this Entry

Style

“Wouldn't hurt a fly.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/wouldn%27t%20hurt%20a%20fly. Accessed 21 Dec. 2024.

Copy Citation