drop like flies

• drop off like flies

• Audio (General Australian):

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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) To 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!

   • 2017, Stray From The Path (lyrics and music), “Good Night Alt-Right”:

     Hit 'em with a left, a left, and a right / Got 'em dropping like flies with the stars in their eyes