A flea is a very small jumping insect that has no wings and feeds on the blood of humans or animals.
flea in British English
(fliː)
noun
1.
any small wingless parasitic blood-sucking insect of the order Siphonaptera, living on the skin of mammals and birds and noted for its power of leaping
2.
any of various invertebrates that resemble fleas, such as the water flea and flea beetle
3. flea in one's ear
Word origin
Old English flēah; related to Old Norse flō, Old High German flōh
flea in American English
(fli)
noun
1.
any of an order (Siphonaptera) of small, flattened, wingless insects with large legs adapted for jumping: as adults they are bloodsucking parasites on mammals and birds
2.
flea beetle
Idioms:
flea in one's ear
Word origin
ME fle < OE fleah, akin to Ger floh < same Gmc base as flee
flea in American English
(fli)
noun
1.
any of numerous small, wingless bloodsucking insects of the order Siphonaptera, parasitic upon mammalsand birds and noted for their ability to leap
2.
either of two common fleas of the genus Ctenocephalides, the very small, black C. felis (cat flea) or the similar but larger C. canis (dog flea), both of which infest cats, dogs, and occasionally humans
3.
any of various small beetles and crustaceans that leap like a flea or swim in a jumpy manner, as the water flea and beach flea
4. See flea in one's ear
Word origin
[bef. 900; ME fle, OE flēah, flēa; c. G Floh; akin to flee]
More idioms containing
flea
send someone away with a flea in their ear
Examples of 'flea' in a sentence
flea
The disease spread from rats to humans by flea bites.
The Sun (2014)
But this kooky flea circus is still worth a visit.
The Sun (2012)
He was sent home from his renegotiation with a flea in his ear.
The Sun (2016)
Last time she filmed red squirrels she ended up with a nasty case of flea bites.
The Sun (2008)
Many pets are at risk from fleas and there has been a dramatic increase in flea treatments sold this summer.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
This sounds like flea beetle and is always worse in dry conditions as they are drawing moisture from the plants.
The Sun (2011)
Probably flea beetles feeding at night.
The Sun (2011)
The dry weather had held the company back, as it hurt sales of flea treatments.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
Would it seriously hurt the company, or would it be just a flea bite?
Peter F. Drucker THE ESSENTIAL DRUCKER (2001)
Rocket is grown in an old wine box off the ground out of reach of flea beetles which jump from plant to plant.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
HE looked like a dog trying to shake a flea from his ear.
The Sun (2009)
Farage in media flea circus?
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
So they convened a kangaroo court and sent him on his unedifying way with a flea in his ear from an outraged Emma.
The Sun (2016)
His body was being destroyed in the worst possible way, but that was a flea bite compared to what was happening to his soul.
Christianity Today (2000)
He said: 'Those who sleep with dogs will get fleas.
The Sun (2008)
Hot, dry weather last July hurt sales of flea treatments and other hygiene products.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
Sent off with a flea in his ear (Oh dear!
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
The key is that the OBR is strong enough and independent enough to send them away with a flea in their ear.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
By the time the flea bites, though, it has almost completed its life and is ready to die.
Times, Sunday Times (2011)
But basing a film on a giant flea who turns out to be a guitar virtuoso is pushing the boundaries of CGI charm.
The Sun (2012)
In this case, if they find out who is responsible, they will get a real flea in the ear.
The Sun (2011)
The king loses his grip when he becomes obsessed - and this is a sight to behold - with a giant flea.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
And the farmer wouldn't have the straw back in his yards, because of his animals getting the fleas and the lice.
Max Arthur Lost Voices of the Edwardians: 19011910 in the words of the Men & Women Who WereThere (2006)
Word lists with
flea
Types of insect
In other languages
flea
British English: flea /fliː/ NOUN
A flea is a small jumping insect that sucks human or animal blood.
American English: flea
Arabic: بُرْغُوث
Brazilian Portuguese: pulga
Chinese: 跳蚤
Croatian: buha
Czech: blecha
Danish: loppe
Dutch: vlo
European Spanish: pulga
Finnish: kirppu
French: puce insecte
German: Floh
Greek: ψύλλος
Italian: pulce
Japanese: 蚤
Korean: 벼룩
Norwegian: loppe
Polish: pchła
European Portuguese: pulga
Romanian: țânțar
Russian: блоха
Latin American Spanish: pulga
Swedish: loppa
Thai: หมัด
Turkish: pire
Ukrainian: блоха
Vietnamese: con rận
All related terms of 'flea'
cat flea
See under flea
sand flea
→ chigoe
beach flea
→ sand hopper
flea beetle
any small common beetle of the genera Phyllotreta , Chalcoides , etc, having enlarged hind legs and capable of jumping : family Chrysomelidae . The larvae of many species are very destructive to turnips and other cruciferous vegetables
flea-bitten
bitten by or infested with fleas
flea circus
a number of fleas trained to perform tricks , as for a carnival sideshow
flea collar
a special medicated collar worn by an animal to prevent it from being infested with fleas
flea market
A flea market is an outdoor market which sells cheap used goods and sometimes also very old furniture .
flea powder
powder that is put on an animal's coat to kill or discourage fleas
flea-ridden
infested with fleas
water flea
any of numerous minute freshwater branchiopod crustaceans of the order Cladocera, which swim by means of hairy branched antennae
flea-flicker
any of various deceptive plays involving both a lateral pass and a forward pass, esp. one in which the quarterback , after handing the ball off, receives a lateral pass and then throws a forward pass
fleapit
If you refer to a cinema or theatre as a fleapit , you mean that it is old and does not look very clean or tidy .
flea in one's ear
a sharp rebuke
jigger
A jigger of a drink such as whisky or gin is the amount of it you are given when you order it in a bar .
a flea in one's ear
a sharp rebuke
send someone away with a flea in their ear
to angrily reject someone's suggestions or attempts to do something