different between fling vs coast

English

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /?fl??/
• Rhymes: -??

Etymology 1

From Middle English fling, from the verb (see below). Compare Icelandic flengur (“a fast sprint”).

Noun

fling (plural flings)

1. An act of throwing, often violently.
2. An act of moving the limbs or body with violent movements, especially in a dance.

3. An act or period of unrestrained indulgence.
   • 1838, Douglas William Jerrold, Men of Character

     When I was as young as you, I had my fling. I led a life of pleasure.
4. A short casual sexual relationship.

   Synonym: hookup

5. (figuratively) An attempt, a try (as in "give it a fling").
6. (obsolete) A severe or contemptuous remark; an expression of sarcastic scorn; a gibe or taunt.
   • c. 1732, Jonathan Swift, Epistle to a Lady

     I, who love to have a fling, / Both at senate house and king.

7. A lively Scottish country dance.

8. (obsolete) A trifling matter; an object of contempt.
   • ante 1800, old proverb

     England were but a fling / Save for the crooked stick and the grey goose wing.

Translations

Etymology 2

From Middle English flingen, flengen, from Old Norse flengja (“to whip”), from Proto-Germanic *flangijan? (“to beat, whip”), from Proto-Indo-European *pleh?k- (“to beat”). Cognate with Icelandic flengja (“to spank”), Norwegian flengja (“to rip, tear, or fling open”).

Verb

fling (third-person singular simple present flings, present participle flinging, simple past flung or (colloquial or dialectal, nonstandard) flang or (nonstandard) flinged, past participle flung or (nonstandard) flinged)

1. (intransitive, now archaic) To move (oneself) abruptly or violently; to rush or dash.
   • 1748, Samuel Richardson, Clarissa, Letter 113:

     I see, sir, said I, I see what a man I am with. […] And away I flung, leaving him seemingly vexed, and in confusion.

   • I flung closer to his breast, / As sword that, after battle, flings to sheath.

2. (transitive) To throw with violence or quick movement; to hurl.
   • I know thy generous temper well. / Fling but the appearance of dishonour on it, / It straight takes fire.
3. (intransitive, archaic) To throw; to wince; to flounce.
   • 1836, Helen Crocket, The Ettrick Shepherd's Last Tale

     The horse flung most potently, making his heels fly aloft in the air.

4. (intransitive, archaic) To utter abusive language; to sneer.

Translations

English

Etymology

From Middle English coste, cooste (“rib", also "shore”), from Old French coste, from Latin costa (“rib, side, edge”).

Pronunciation

• (General American) enPR: k?st, IPA^(key): /ko?st/
• (Received Pronunciation) enPR: k?st, IPA^(key): /k??st/
• Rhymes: -??st

Noun

coast (plural coasts)

1. The edge of the land where it meets an ocean, sea, gulf, bay, or large lake. [from 14th c.]

   The rocky coast of Maine has few beaches.

2. (obsolete) The side or edge of something. [15th-18th c.]

   (Can we find and add a quotation of Sir Isaac Newton to this entry?)

3. (obsolete) A region of land; a district or country. [14th-17th c.]
   • 1526, William Tyndale (translator), Bible, Matthew 2

     Then Herod perceavynge that he was moocked off the wyse men, was excedynge wroth, and sent forth and slue all the chyldren that were in bethleem, and in all the costes thereof […]

   • P. Crescentius, in his lib. 1 de agric. cap. 5, is very copious in this subject, how a house should be wholesomely sited, in a good coast, good air, wind, etc.

4. (obsolete) A region of the air or heavens. [14th-17th c.]
   • 1590, Edmund Spenser, The Faerie Queene, III iii

     the learned Merlin, well could tell, / Vnder what coast of heauen the man did dwell […]

Hypernyms

• (edge of land meeting an ocean, sea, gulf, or bay): shore, shoreline

Hyponyms

• (edge of land meeting an ocean, sea, gulf, or bay): oceanfront, seashore

Derived terms

Related terms

Translations

Verb

coast (third-person singular simple present coasts, present participle coasting, simple past and past participle coasted)

1. (intransitive) To glide along without adding energy; to allow a vehicle to continue moving forward after disengaging the engine or ceasing to apply motive power.
2. (intransitive, nautical) To sail along a coast.
   • 1727, John Arbuthnot, Tables of Ancient Coins, Weights and Measures. Explain'd and exemplify'd in several dissertations

     The Ancients coasted only in their Navigations.

3. (intransitive) To make a minimal effort; to continue to do something in a routine way, without initiative or effort.
   • November 2 2014, Daniel Taylor, "Sergio Agüero strike wins derby for Manchester City against 10-man United," guardian.co.uk

     Yet the truth is that City would probably have been coasting by that point if the referee, Michael Oliver, had not turned down three separate penalties, at least two of which could be accurately described as certainties.

4. (intransitive, obsolete) To draw near to; to approach; to keep near, or by the side of.
5. (transitive, obsolete) To sail by or near; to follow the coastline of.
6. (transitive, obsolete) To conduct along a coast or river bank.

   • The Indians […] coasted me a long the river.

7. (US, dialect) To slide downhill; to slide on a sled upon snow or ice.

Translations

Anagrams

• Ascot, Casto, Coats, Costa, Cotas, Sacto, Tosca, ascot, catso, coats, costa, octas, scato-, scoat, tacos