English

Verb

drop like flies ‎(third-person singular simple present drops like flies, present participle dropping like flies, simple past and past participle dropped like flies)

1. (simile, of members of a group, especially soldiers) Die en masse, one after the other.
   • 1986, Little Shop of Horrors (1986 film)

     Seymour: Audrey, quick! We've got to do an emergency [flower] arrangement.

     […]

     Mr. Mushnik: The Shivas are our most important funereal account. A big, enormous family, they're dropping off like flies!

Alternative forms

• drop off like flies

Translations