covered with flies

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "covered with flies" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe something that is infested or swarmed by flies, often implying decay or uncleanliness. Example: "The abandoned house was covered with flies, a clear sign that no one had lived there for years."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

13 human-written examples

They were covered with flies.

The New York Times

His skin was wet and covered with flies.

The New York Times - Arts

All the bush meat is covered with flies.

The New York Times - Science

He died on his back, looking at the sky, and his body was covered with flies.

The New York Times - Magazine

Patients were covered with flies and stacked end to end on soiled plastic mattresses.

The New Yorker

I was covered with flies and wearing one of the yellow baseball hats we had made for the landfill inspectors, which said, "For a Cleaner, More Beautiful Baghdad".

The New York Times - Magazine

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

46 human-written examples

Marthe regales us with legends of their wild mountain-top dancing and spell-casting with such conviction that, if you can block out the whirr of the odd cable car and the sight of the Gore-Tex-clad walkers, you can almost begin to imagine the gloomy flat top of the giant Schlern mountain covered with flying black figures intent on wreaking havoc on their neighbours.

The Guardian - Travel

Carcasses observed 3 4 days after death bear few signs of scavenger activity but are covered with fly eggs and maggots.

Emerging Infectious Diseases

Each one was covered with busy black flies, and flies darted around the hollow of the bucket.

The New York Times - Travel

It was covered with ants, and flies were zooming above it, landing on it, sucking it.

The New York Times

Later, as World War II loomed, Schiaparelli designed two evening dresses (1939) in "shocking" pink silk jersey, covered with appliquéd black flies made of sequins and beads, a comment on the pestilence of war.

The New York Times - Arts

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "covered with flies" to create a strong visual image of decay, uncleanliness, or neglect in your writing. It's most effective when you want to evoke a sense of disgust or unease.

Common error

While "covered with flies" is grammatically correct, be mindful of its strong, potentially jarring imagery. Avoid using it in formal or professional contexts where a more neutral description is appropriate.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "covered with flies" primarily functions as a descriptive adjective phrase. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness, and examples illustrate its use in modifying nouns to depict a state of infestation or uncleanliness.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Science

30%

Wiki

20%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Academia

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "covered with flies" is a grammatically sound and evocative phrase used to describe something infested with flies, often implying decay or uncleanliness. Ludwig AI confirms its correct usage. While commonly found in news and media, and also in some scientific and wiki contexts, its strong imagery suggests it should be used judiciously, especially in formal settings. Alternatives like "infested with flies" or "swarming with flies" may be more appropriate depending on the desired tone and level of formality.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

infested with flies

This alternative emphasizes the presence of flies as an infestation, highlighting the unwelcome nature of their presence.

infested by flies

A passive construction highlighting the flies as the agents of infestation.

swarming with flies

This phrase conveys a sense of active movement and a large number of flies gathering on a surface.

riddled with flies

This suggests that the flies are causing problems, implying a negative impact.

plagued by flies

This implies the flies are a source of irritation or trouble, affecting something negatively.

overrun with flies

Similar to "swarming", this implies a loss of control due to the abundance of flies.

thick with flies

Focuses on the density of flies present, creating a sense of oppressiveness.

teeming with flies

Emphasizes a large quantity of flies actively moving around on the surface.

alive with flies

This suggests a surface that appears to be actively moving due to the presence of many flies.

with flies all over

A more general and less vivid way of saying that flies are present in large numbers.

FAQs

How can I use "covered with flies" in a sentence?

You can use "covered with flies" to vividly describe something infested or unclean. For example, "The abandoned fruit was "covered with flies"."

What are some alternatives to "covered with flies"?

Depending on the context, you could use alternatives like "infested with flies", "swarming with flies", or "riddled with flies".

Is it correct to say "covered in flies" instead of "covered with flies"?

"Covered in flies" is also grammatically acceptable, but ""covered with flies"" is generally preferred for its slightly more formal tone and common usage.

What does it mean when something is described as "covered with flies"?

It typically suggests a state of decay, neglect, or uncleanliness. The presence of flies indicates that something is likely rotting or unsanitary.