about to fly

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "about to fly" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to indicate that someone or something is on the verge of taking flight or is about to leave or depart soon. Example: "The plane is about to fly, so please fasten your seatbelts and prepare for takeoff."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Arts

Sports

Lifestyle

Books

Science

Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

59 human-written examples

The Harrington brothers were about to fly home to Boston — on separate flights, within a half-hour of each other.

The New York Times

Sue is pregnant and about to fly to Phoenix to get an abortion (she's a travelling nurse).

The New Yorker

By contrast, the disparate, decentralized parts of Morgan Thorson's "Monuments and Other Points of Interest: A Revisionist Construction of Closeness" seem always about to fly off.

The New York Times - Arts

And I said, well, I'm not about to fly to Paris to check out some rumor, I don't believe it, anyway.

Huffington Post

On Friday he asked followers: "About to fly home after 2 weeks' holiday.

The New York Times

Talabani, who was about to fly to Syria, maintained a discreet silence.

The New Yorker

What are those wires it appears she's about to fly into?

The New Yorker

For a man about to fly in a few days, he looked relatively calm.

The New York Times - Sports

Once he called her up and said he was a crow about to fly to Florida.

The New Yorker

Several years ago, I was about to fly from LAX to Hawaii's Big Island.

The New Yorker

On September 11 , 2001 I was in Spain and about to fly to Sri Lanka.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "about to fly" when describing an imminent departure or the feeling of being on the edge of a new experience. For example, “She felt like she was "about to fly" when she received the acceptance letter.”

Common error

Avoid using "about to fly" when describing something that is permanently fixed or not capable of movement. It’s incorrect to say, “The building looked like it was "about to fly" away” unless referring to a literal scene where the building is being lifted.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "about to fly" functions as an adjectival phrase modifying a noun, indicating the state of being on the verge of flight. It describes an action that is imminent. Ludwig AI confirms that its usage is grammatically correct and well-supported by numerous examples.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Arts

15%

Sports

10%

Less common in

Lifestyle

8%

Books

7%

Science

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "about to fly" is a grammatically correct and very common phrase used to describe the imminence of flight, whether literal or metaphorical. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's widely used in news, arts, and sports contexts, maintaining a generally neutral tone suitable for various registers. When using "about to fly", ensure that the subject is indeed capable of flight or that the metaphorical context is clear. Consider alternatives like "ready to take flight" or "on the verge of flying" for slight variations in meaning.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

on the verge of flying

Emphasizes being at the very edge of the action of flying, highlighting the imminence.

ready to take flight

Stresses preparation and readiness for the act of flying.

just about to take off

More specific to aircraft, indicating the start of a journey.

on the point of departure

Formal alternative emphasizing the moment of leaving.

preparing for takeoff

Focuses on the actions being taken to initiate flight.

going to fly

Simple and direct, indicating a planned future action.

about to take wing

More poetic and often used for birds or metaphorical flight.

on the brink of flying

Similar to 'on the verge', but with a sense of potential instability or excitement.

set to soar

Emphasizes upward movement and ambition, adding a figurative dimension.

ready for ascent

Formal and technical, highlighting the upward motion in aviation or climbing.

FAQs

How can I use "about to fly" in a sentence?

You can use "about to fly" to describe the immediate future of something taking flight, either literally or metaphorically. For example, "The plane is "about to fly", so please fasten your seatbelts," or "She felt like she was "about to fly" with excitement".

What are some alternatives to "about to fly"?

Some alternatives include "ready to take flight", "on the verge of flying", or "preparing for takeoff", depending on the specific context.

Which is correct: "about to fly" or "going to fly"?

"About to fly" implies a higher degree of imminence than "going to fly". "About to fly" suggests something will happen very soon, while "going to fly" simply indicates a future plan or intention.

What's the difference between "about to fly" and "about to take off"?

"About to fly" is a more general term that can apply to anything preparing to fly, including birds or even metaphorical situations. "About to take off" is more specific to aircraft or situations where something is literally beginning a journey.