fly-on-the-wall
adjective
ˈflī-ȯn-ṯẖə-ˈwȯl 
-än-
: having or involving an inconspicuous but effective point of observation
fly-on-the-wall observations of aspects of daily life—
Will Manley
Will ManleyExamples of fly-on-the-wall in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
The Hutchins documentary is coming out as TLC is airing The Baldwins, a fly-on-the-wall reality show about Alec and Hilaria Baldwin and their seven children, which began shooting just as Baldwin’s manslaughter trial was about to begin in Santa Fe last summer.
—Rebecca Keegan, The Hollywood Reporter, 5 Mar. 2025
The book’s sections correspond to the days of a workweek, each beginning with a fly-on-the-wall account of how an episode comes together.
—A.o. Scott, New York Times, 12 Feb. 2025
Baker’s style was a kind of docu-fiction; realistic enough to look like fly-on-the-wall verité, but scripted and shaped into a compassionate dispatch from the margins of mainstream life.
—Antonia Blyth, Deadline, 4 Feb. 2025
This fly-on-the-wall music documentary covers it all, from Cyndi Lauper's wail to Bruce Springsteen's growl to the fact that poor Huey Lewis had to follow Michael Jackson.
—Debby Wolfinsohn, EW.com, 11 Jan. 2025
Now in its fifth season, the show is crafted to at least appear like a fly-on-the-wall look at the life of a family of moguls, not reality stars — but this doesn’t always make for riveting TV.
—Louis Staples, Rolling Stone, 29 Dec. 2024
Such fly-on-the-wall sports shows will serve to complement Netflix's livestreams.
—Dan Perry, Newsweek, 18 Dec. 2024
That’s the extensive fly-on-the-wall footage shot by direct cinema pioneers Albert and David Maysles over 14 whirlwind days, starting with the Beatles’ arrival at JFK International Airport in New York.
—David Rooney, The Hollywood Reporter, 25 Nov. 2024
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex’s Archewell Productions is behind the fly-on-the-wall look at global stars and teams competing at the high-stakes U.S. Open Polo Championship in Wellington, Florida.
—Etan Vlessing, The Hollywood Reporter, 21 Nov. 2024
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Rebecca Keegan, The Hollywood Reporter, 5 Mar. 2025
The book’s sections correspond to the days of a workweek, each beginning with a fly-on-the-wall account of how an episode comes together.
—A.o. Scott, New York Times, 12 Feb. 2025
Baker’s style was a kind of docu-fiction; realistic enough to look like fly-on-the-wall verité, but scripted and shaped into a compassionate dispatch from the margins of mainstream life.
—Antonia Blyth, Deadline, 4 Feb. 2025
This fly-on-the-wall music documentary covers it all, from Cyndi Lauper's wail to Bruce Springsteen's growl to the fact that poor Huey Lewis had to follow Michael Jackson.
—Debby Wolfinsohn, EW.com, 11 Jan. 2025
Now in its fifth season, the show is crafted to at least appear like a fly-on-the-wall look at the life of a family of moguls, not reality stars — but this doesn’t always make for riveting TV.
—Louis Staples, Rolling Stone, 29 Dec. 2024
Such fly-on-the-wall sports shows will serve to complement Netflix's livestreams.
—Dan Perry, Newsweek, 18 Dec. 2024
That’s the extensive fly-on-the-wall footage shot by direct cinema pioneers Albert and David Maysles over 14 whirlwind days, starting with the Beatles’ arrival at JFK International Airport in New York.
—David Rooney, The Hollywood Reporter, 25 Nov. 2024
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex’s Archewell Productions is behind the fly-on-the-wall look at global stars and teams competing at the high-stakes U.S. Open Polo Championship in Wellington, Florida.
—Etan Vlessing, The Hollywood Reporter, 21 Nov. 2024
Cite this Entry
“Fly-on-the-wall.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/fly-on-the-wall. Accessed 13 Mar. 2025.
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