Fly, you fools vs Run away

When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.

Fly, you fools

Informal Beyond 10,000 (less common)

Run away

	Fly, you fools	Run away
Pronunciation	🇬🇧 //flaɪ, juː fuːlz// 🇺🇸 //flaɪ, ju fuɫz//
Meaning	Leave quickly to avoid danger.
Example	As the dragon approached, Gandalf shouted, 'Fly, you fools!'	-
Register	Informal	-
How common	Beyond 10,000 (less common)	-
Collocations	fly away, fly fast, fly high	-
Common mistakes	Misinterpreted as a literal instruction to fly., Used too casually in serious situations., Omitted context can lead to confusion.	-
Usage notes	Best used in dramatic situations, often humorously; may not be appropriate in serious contexts.	-

See it in real clips

The Lord Of The Rings › The Fellowship Of The Ring

Fly, you fools!

Fly, you fools

Run away, Simba.

Run away

Frequently asked questions: Fly, you fools vs Run away

What's the difference between Fly, you fools and Run away?

Fly, you fools: Leave quickly to avoid danger. Run away:

Can I use Fly, you fools and Run away interchangeably?

Not always. Fly, you fools and Run away are related and overlap in some contexts, but they differ in register, how common they are, and usage, so swapping one for another can change the meaning or tone. Check the differences above before substituting.