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Dictionary

Words, grammatical forms and meanings linked to the ontology.

take a flyer en · VERB

Pronunciation

Meanings

  1. Used other than figuratively or idiomatically: see take, flyer.
  2. (idiomatic) To invest against odds.
    • 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. 1906, O. Henry, Man About Town:
  3. (idiomatic) To make a choice with an uncertain outcome; to take a chance.
    • 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. 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:
    • 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. 2006, Dan Matthews, Marsha Collier, Starting a Business on eBay.co.uk for Dummies, John Wiley & Sons, published 2006, →ISBN:
    • The Steelers essentially took a flyer on Brister since his track record consisted of one season leading a college team. 2009, Lew Freedman, Dick Hoak, Pittsburgh Steelers: The Complete Illustrated History, MBI Publishing, published 2009, →ISBN, page 112:
    • In contrast, other leaders are almost totally risk-averse. They haven't taken a flyer in their adult life. 2002, Bill Hybels, Courageous Leadership, Zondervan, published 2002, →ISBN:

Forms

SpellingFeaturesLabelsSource
took a flyer Tense=Past lexicographic
taken a flyer Tense=Past, VerbForm=Part lexicographic
taking a flyer Tense=Pres, VerbForm=Part lexicographic
take a flier alternative lexicographic
takes a flyer Number=Sing, Person=3, Tense=Pres lexicographic

Synonyms

take a risk (take a chance) · roll the dice (take a chance) · take a gamble (take a chance)

Translations (9)

pl ryzykować (to make a risky choice) · pl podejmować ryzyko (to make a risky choice) · ru сде́лать риско́ванный вы́бор (to make a risky choice) · sv chansa (to make a risky choice) · fi pelata upporikasta ja rutiköyhää (to make a risky choice) · pl podjąć ryzyko (to make a risky choice) · es dejar lo cierto por lo dudoso (to make a risky choice) · sv ta en rövare (to make a risky choice) · pl zaryzykować (to make a risky choice)