Hurt a fly Meaning in English
expression
ˈhɝt/ /ˈeɪ/, /ə/ /ˈfɫaɪ
HURT-uh-FLY
hˈɜːt/ /æɪ/ /flˈaɪ
HURT-uh-FLY
Definition
Used to say someone is extremely gentle, harmless, or would never hurt anyone or anything, even something as small as a fly.
Usage & Nuances
Always used negatively ('wouldn't/couldn't hurt a fly') to emphasize someone is not aggressive. Common in describing gentle, timid, or innocent people. Not literal—just an idiom for harmlessness.
Spanish: hacerle daño ni a una moscaPortuguese (BR): fazer mal a uma moscaPortuguese (PT): fazer mal a uma moscaChinese (Simplified): 连苍蝇都不伤害Chinese (Traditional): 連蒼蠅都不傷害Hindi: मक्खी तक को नुकसान नहीं पहुँचानाArabic: لا يؤذي ذبابةBengali: একটা মাছিকেও কষ্ট দিতে না পারাRussian: и мухи не обидитJapanese: 虫も殺せないVietnamese: không làm hại nổi một con ruồiKorean: 파리 한 마리도 해치지 못하다Turkish: bir sineğe bile zarar verememekUrdu: کسی مکھی کو بھی نقصان نہ پہنچا سکتا ہوIndonesian: tidak akan menyakiti lalat sekalipun
Example Sentences
He is so kind, he wouldn't hurt a fly.
basic
My sister is shy and wouldn't hurt a fly.
basic
Tom is too gentle to hurt a fly.
basic
Don't worry about Max—he couldn't hurt a fly even if he tried.
natural
You can trust her; she wouldn't hurt a fly.
natural
People think he's scary, but honestly, he wouldn't hurt a fly.
natural