No. 947 in Afrikaans
vlieg
"Vlieg" in English means "fly."
In a sentence
Die voël vlieg hoog in die lug.
The bird flies high in the sky.
Here, "vlieg" is used in its literal sense, referring to the action of flying, which pertains to the bird's motion.
Die tyd vlieg wanneer jy pret het.
Time flies when you're having fun.
In this case, "vlieg" is used metaphorically to describe how time seems to pass quickly, emphasizing the subjective experience of time perception.
Hy vlieg van die hanteer af wanneer hy kwaad word.
He flies off the handle when he gets angry.
Here, "vlieg" is part of an idiomatic expression, implying a sudden emotional reaction, illustrating its figurative use in Afrikaans.
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