in the region of the Cape of Good Hope: This book is devoted to the legend of The Flying Dutchman and its captain. 2. an express train running between London and Bristol: “The Fly - ing Dutchman ” express train was the fastest train in the world in the 1870s. Flying Scotchman, the—(also: Flying Scotsman, the) an ex- press train running between London and Edinburgh: This train (significantly named “The Flying Scotchman ”) is believed to be the fastest train in the world. flying horse • flying mare flying horse—1. hippogriff (a mythical animal having the foreparts of a winged griffin and the body of a horse): Harry Pot- ter has to overcome the trauma of having a Hippogriff (Flying Horse ) destroyed by the authorities. 2. the constellation Pega- sus: Pegasus the Flying Horse is a fall constellation, not resem- bling a horse as much as it does a flying brick. 3. (Wrestling) maneuver in which the contestant seizes an opponent’s wrist, turns about, and jerks him over his back: They get advice on suitable clothing when wrestling and instruction on moves such as “The Flying Horse .” Note: The expression does not correlate in meaning with the phrase flying sea-horse—(also: sea-horse) fish of peculiar form, with body somewhat like a horse’s head: They have at times been classified with other groups of fish. These strange looking crea- tures are also known as “flying sea horses .” flying mare— = flying horse 3: Many worked stones survive as relics; they include statue bases with the reliefs of wrestlers (one attempting the “flying mare ” throw). flying squad • flying squadron flying squad—1. any body of persons organized for rapid movement or action: To speed justice, more frequent assizes and a “flying squad ” of judges to hear cases during the Long Vacation are recommended. 2. (Flying Squad, the) a branch of London’s Metropolitan Police force, capable of moving quickly into action: It’s a Saturday evening and members of the Flying Squad meet at police headquarters in Brixton. flying squadron—1. a unit of the U.S. air force: I would change the organizational structure so the aircraft maintenance unit is part of the flying squadron to which pilots belong. 2. = flying squad 1: Ms. Dodson tells of the “Flying Squadron ”— the nickname for a group of strikers who traveled to mills in order to plant the seeds of the union movement. 3. (Nautical) a detachment of vessels employed on any particular service: The Flying Squadron arrived at Cienfuegos, Cuba and estab- lished the blockade of that port. flying weight • flyweight flying weight—the weight of the plane or rocket without fuel: After using the rocket propellants the flying weight is 1780 Kg and during the ascent the total weight averages less than 2000 Kg. flyweight—(Sport) a weight category in boxing, wrestling and weightlifting: Chartchai, three-time world flyweight champion, has been staying at a Tokyo hotel. fold one’s arms • fold one’s hands fold one’s arms—place one’s arms across the chest: The young woman folded her arms across her chest and frowned at Kay Stanley. fold one’s hands—press hands together with the fingers inter- laced: She sat erectly, her hands folded on her black skirt. follow the crowd • join the crowd follow the crowd—think or behave in exactly the same way as everyone else: Don’t expect anything original from this man—he just follows the crowd . join the crowd—(also: join the club) is used to tell that one has already had a similar, usually unpleasant, experience: Oh, you’re unemployed now are you? So am I—join the crowd . follow the plough • put one’s hand to the plough follow the plough—be a ploughman or peasant: His boys followed the plough ; and his girls went out to service. put one’s hand to the plough—(also: turn one’s hand to the plough) begin a task (with the implication that one will persist at it): Ideala, having at last put her hand to the plough , worked with a will. follow through with something • follow up with something follow through with something—complete smth. such as a plan, etc.; continue doing smth. until it is finished: Young children have a need to know that you will follow through with what you say. follow up with something—1. act further on smth.: Having a great idea and being able to follow up with it are two very different things. 2. do smth. after having done smth. else: The gymnasts perform compulsory routines today and follow up with individual events tomorrow. foot the bill • top the bill foot the bill—1. pay the bill, especially when considered large: When the Simpsons moved away, Greg was left to foot the bill for the building supplies. 2. pay for smth. whose cost is considered unreasonable (especially in consequence of smb.’s actions): The pharmaceutical industry will continue to hike drug costs, and consumers will foot the bill . top the bill—be the most important item or person on a program of entertainments: The following year, she topped the bill at the Parisian music hall for a series of concerts there. footman • leg man footman —manservant who admits visitors, waits at table, etc.: He met a footman carrying a breakfast-tray. leg man—1. an assistant running errands: He was the top man, and I was his “leg man .” He personally handled most of the negotiations…. 2. a reporter gathering facts at the scene: On large newspaper, rewrite persons are assigned to such tasks as taking facts over the telephone from a leg man . 3. (sl.) a man who prefers females with good-looking legs: Clyde is a leg-man , but almost everything will turn him on a little. footpad • pad foot footpad —(UK dated) a holdup man: Roads in the neigh- borhood of the metropolis were infested by footpads or high- waymen. pad foot—a curved leg of a chair, table, etc.: The legs of these tables are too straight to be classed as cabriole, and have pad feet . footwork • leg work footwork—sureness and accurate placing of the feet in box- ing, dancing, etc.: Kaman makes the most of his footwork . He stays clear of Tosca and picks his punches well. leg work —1. = footwork: Flying wings rely on the pilot’s leg- work to become airborne and span and performance is limited by the power of the human shoulder. 2. work which involves running errands or going from place to place: Patey was no man of action, but he might send a man we used a great deal for leg work . for a bit • for quite a bit for a bit—(coll.) for a short period of time: Why can’t we stay here for a bit ? for quite a bit—(coll.) for quite a long time: Mr. Heissman was away for quite a bit . flying horse – 124 –