fly on the wall

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noun phrase

: someone who is able to secretly watch or listen to other people
What might the proverbial fly on the wall have heard if four leading scientists had met over dinner in 1949 …Publishers Weekly
: having or involving an inconspicuous but effective point of observation
fly-on-the-wall observations of aspects of daily life …Will Manley

Examples of fly on the wall in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Noun phrase
Essentially, the audience is a fly on the wall during a sleepover Natasha is hosting for besties Taylor (Jordan Levene) and Taylor (Brandon Acosta). Chris Jones, Chicago Tribune, 27 Aug. 2026 The three-time NBA champion and Hall of Famer lets viewers be a fly on the wall of his life. Todd Spangler, Variety, 13 May 2026
Adjective
Viewers get to be a fly-on-the-wall during a meeting between Disney executives — including former CEO Bob Iger and current CEO Josh D’Amaro — and members of the UAE’s Department of Culture and Tourism. Colson Thayer, PEOPLE, 20 Aug. 2026 The film presents a fly-on-the-wall portrait of Mizrahi’s creative process. Brent Lang, Variety, 8 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for fly on the wall

Word History

First Known Use

Noun Phrase

1927, in the meaning defined above

Adjective

1943, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of fly on the wall was in 1927

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Cite this Entry

“Fly on the wall.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/fly%20on%20the%20wall. Accessed 1 Sep. 2026.

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