The phrasal verb "flew back" means to return by flight to a previous location. Its pronunciation is /fluː bæk/ in IPA phonetics. The 'flew' component is pronounced with a long 'oo' sound, represented by 'uː', and the 'back' component consists of a short 'a' sound followed by a 'k' sound, represented by 'bæk'. Remembering the spelling of this phrase might be helpful to keep in mind the 'e' after 'w', which indicates that the previous sound is a long 'oo'.
Flew back is a phrasal verb that can have several interpretations depending on the context in which it is used. Typically, it refers to the act of returning quickly or abruptly to a previous location or position.
One possible meaning of "flew back" is related to physical movement. It signifies the action of swiftly returning to a specific place, often using the mode of flight. For instance, if someone travels to a different city for a vacation and subsequently returns home by plane, it can be said that they "flew back."
However, "flew back" can also be used metaphorically to denote a psychological or emotional response. In this sense, it describes a sudden or intense reaction to a particular situation or memory. For example, if a person hears a nostalgic song and experiences a flood of memories and emotions related to their past, it can be said that those memories "flew back" to them.
Additionally, "flew back" can be employed in a figurative context to describe the reversal of a previous decision or action. In this case, it suggests retracting or undoing something that was previously done or said. For instance, if an individual initially declined an invitation but later changed their mind and accepted, it could be described as them "flying back" on their decision.
Overall, the meaning of "flew back" varies depending on the overall context but generally conveys the notions of returning swiftly, recollecting memories with intensity, or reversing a previous course of action.
The phrase "flew back" is not a word itself, but a combination of two separate words: "flew" and "back". The etymology of each word is as follows:
1. Flew: The word "flew" is the past tense of the verb "fly". It originated from the Old English word "fleogan", which had the same meaning. "Fleogan" can be traced back to the Proto-Germanic word "fleuganą", meaning "to fly". This word has cognates in other Germanic languages, such as Old High German "fliogan" and Old Norse "fljúga".
2. Back: The word "back" comes from the Old English word "bæc", which meant "the opposite side" or "the rear". It can be linked to the Proto-Germanic word "bakam", with similar meanings.