fling up

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "fling up" is not commonly used in written English and may not be widely recognized.
It can be used in informal contexts to describe the action of throwing or tossing something upwards. Example: "He decided to fling up his hands in frustration when he heard the news."

News & Media

Wiki

Sports

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

10 human-written examples

When pinned in, Rider would fling up a shot.

The New York Times - Sports

Engineered for the social media age, they fling up swarms of falsehoods, concocted theories and red herrings, intended not so much to persuade people but to bewilder them.

The Washington Post

When the Jamie faithful spot familiar motifs and riffs and snatches of vocal samples among the often glutinous instrumentals, they too fling up their arms.

The Guardian - Music

Houston missed his first free throw and missed his second on purpose, so the Hawks had to burn a second to gather the ball and fling up a last-second shot.

The New York Times - Sports

Since, by then, your hair was already standing on end, and your arms were on fire anyway, you might as well go whole hog and fling up a lung screaming about Andre Burakovsky, benched for one game and scoreless in the playoffs, stabbing two breakaway goals past Andrei Vasilevskiy.

The Washington Post

Instead, fling up your duvet (with a little whimsy, of course) and be done with it.

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

50 human-written examples

Early proposals were flung up, fiercely debated and slapped down.

The New York Times

West flung up a shot from about 25 feet.

The New York Times - Sports

A dock had been flung up on someone's lawn.

The New York Times

They flung up their hands and screamed in delight.

The Guardian - Books

The far court opens for us all July Your arm, flung up.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "fling up" when you want to convey a sense of quick, almost casual upward motion. It suggests less precision than "throw" but more energy than "raise".

Common error

Avoid using "fling up" in formal writing, as it can sound too casual. Opt for a more precise and professional verb like "throw", "raise quickly", or "propel upwards" depending on the intended meaning.

Linguistic Context

The phrasal verb "fling up" functions primarily to describe the action of throwing or projecting something upwards with a quick, often casual or somewhat uncontrolled motion. Ludwig examples show it used in contexts ranging from sports to everyday actions.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Wiki

28%

Sports

14%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Science

8%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "fling up" is a phrasal verb that describes a quick, often casual, upward motion. Ludwig AI confirms it's grammatically acceptable but less common in formal settings. Primarily used in News & Media, sports, and Wiki contexts, it carries a neutral to informal register. When choosing alternatives, consider the desired tone and level of precision, opting for options like "toss upward" or "propel upwards" for varying degrees of formality. While not incorrect, avoid using "fling up" in formal documents.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

toss upward

Replaces "fling" with "toss", a gentler action, and uses "upward" for clarity.

throw upwards

Uses a more common verb, "throw", and specifies the direction.

hurl aloft

More formal and dramatic, using "hurl" and "aloft".

cast upward

A slightly more formal alternative, using "cast" to imply a deliberate throw.

pitch skyward

Uses "pitch", implying a specific manner of throwing, and "skyward" for direction.

propel upwards

Suggests a forceful movement upwards.

launch into the air

More descriptive, specifying the destination of the action.

heave upwards

Implies a heavy object and a strenuous effort.

send flying up

More casual, emphasizing the movement rather than the thrower.

raise quickly

Focuses on the speed of elevation rather than the act of throwing.

FAQs

How can I use "fling up" in a sentence?

You can use "fling up" to describe a quick, somewhat careless upward motion, as in "He decided to "fling up" his hands in frustration" or "She would "fling up" the covers in the morning".

What's a more formal alternative to "fling up"?

For a more formal tone, consider using phrases like "propel upwards", "cast upward", or "raise quickly" which offer a similar meaning with increased precision and formality.

Is "fling up" appropriate for academic writing?

Generally, "fling up" is too informal for academic writing. More precise and descriptive language is preferred. Use stronger alternatives such as "project upward" or "elevate rapidly" to maintain a professional and accurate tone.

What does "fling up" imply about the action being described?

"Fling up" suggests a fast, somewhat uncontrolled movement. It's less deliberate than "throw upwards" and less gentle than "raise up". It implies a sudden release of energy resulting in an upward trajectory.