has been flinging

USAGE SUMMARY

"has been flinging" is correct and usable in written English. You can use it to describe an ongoing action that started in the past and continues into the present. Example: "She has been flinging her clothes around the room in frustration." Alternative expressions include "has been throwing" and "has been tossing."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

But the barbs he has been flinging at the old Continent are beginning to pall among Europeans, even those who should be his party's natural allies.

The New York Times

As a woman, Clinton will be a historic candidate – and a magnet for all the sexist, gendered attacks the Republicans has been flinging at her for years.

The Guardian - Opinion

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

58 human-written examples

A match has been flung into this routine-driven house of damp squibs.

The New York Times

This is not the first time tacit homophobia has been flung toward the expert team that put together Coronation Street.

The Guardian - Opinion

Hatred has been flung at her online ever since: "You've been deceived by the devil," is a typical, charming comment.

Independent

India is seen as competing with China for influence over Burma's economy, which has been flung open after decades of relative isolation.

The Washington Post

Daily, she tries to scrub off the blood-red paint that has been flung at her house by vengeful neighbours, as if in public atonement for her sins.

The Guardian - Film

While the door to cheaper mortgages is creaking ajar slowly, it has been flung wide open when it comes to personal loans.

The Guardian - Money

The phrase "new female voice of her generation" has been flung around to describe 28-year-old Emily Gould, setting up ridiculously high expectations for her first book, a melancholy essay collection called "And the Heart Says Whatever".

The New York Times - Books

Mud has been flung.

BBC

Throughout history, much figurative poo has been flung at scientists.

Science Magazine

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Employ this phrase in metaphorical contexts, such as flinging insults or accusations, to add a sense of messy or aggressive persistence.

Common error

Avoid using "has been flinging" when you mean the action happened once and is finished. If the action is complete, use the present perfect "<a href="/s/has+flung" target="_blank" rel="alternative">has flung" or the simple past "<a href="/s/flung" target="_blank" rel="alternative">flung".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "has been flinging" functions as a present perfect continuous verb phrase. It consists of the auxiliary verbs "has" and "been" followed by the present participle "flinging". According to Ludwig, this structure emphasizes the ongoing nature of an action that started in the past and continues to the present.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

75%

Academia

15%

Science

10%

Less common in

Formal & Business

5%

Wiki

3%

Social Media

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "has been flinging" is a grammatically correct and evocative phrase used to describe persistent, forceful actions. Ludwig AI data shows that while the exact phrase is relatively rare compared to its passive counterpart "<a href="/s/has+been+flung" target="_blank" rel="alternative">has been flung", it is highly effective in narrative contexts. It is particularly prevalent in News & Media to describe metaphorical exchanges, such as political attacks or verbal sparrings. Writers should use it when they want to convey a sense of ongoing, perhaps reckless, energy that "<a href="/s/has+been+throwing" target="_blank" rel="alternative">has been throwing" might fail to capture. Always ensure the context supports a continuous action rather than a single completed event.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

has been throwing

Uses a more general and common verb for the same action

has been hurling

Suggests a much greater degree of force or violence in the action

has been slinging

Often used in the context of insults, similar to the metaphorical use of flinging

has been tossing

Implies a more casual or lighthearted manner of throwing

has been lobbing

Suggests a high, slow arc rather than a direct, forceful line

has been launching

Implies a more systematic or planned start to the motion

has been casting

Often used in literary contexts or for specific items like nets or shadows

has been pitchings

Specific to a targeted or competitive style of throwing

has been projecting

More technical or formal term for sending something outward

has been scattering

Implies flinging many small things in multiple directions simultaneously

FAQs

How to use "has been flinging" in a sentence?

You use it to describe someone who has been repeatedly throwing things with force, such as: "The athlete has been flinging the discus with impressive consistency all morning."

What is the difference between "has been flinging" and "has been throwing"?

While both are correct, "has been flinging" implies more recklessness or force than "<a href="/s/has+been+throwing" target="_blank" rel="alternative">has been throwing", which is more neutral.

Is "has been flinging" formal or informal?

It is generally neutral and frequently appears in high-quality journalism, though it can lean toward informal depending on the object being flung.

What is a more descriptive alternative to "has been flinging"?

If you want to emphasize the speed and violence of the action, you might use "<a href="/s/has+been+hurling" target="_blank" rel="alternative">has been hurling" instead.