To drop like flies 意為「大量病倒或死亡」,其中 flies 是 fly (蒼蠅) 的複數。眾所周知,蒼蠅的生命非常短,且經常大量同時死亡。這個慣用語通常用進行式,即 BE + dropping like flies。
To drop like flies 最早是於 1902 年出現在《亞特蘭大憲政報》(Atlanta Constitution),但它為何被比喻為這一意思則不得而知。除了這項意思外,它現在有時亦被用來表示「紛紛停止做 (某事)」的意思。
例句:
- The scorching heat was overwhelming and lots of animals were dropping like flies. (酷熱難當,許多動物快速死亡)
- People are dropping like flies with the flu. (人們因流感而紛紛病倒)
- There used to be over 30 of us in our yoga class but most of them are dropping like flies. (過去我們的瑜伽班有 30 多個人,但現在他們大部分都退出了)