fly on the wall

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

"I've always wanted to be a fly on the wall and see what he's saying about our lads," said Tuipulotu.

From Barron's • Feb. 20, 2026

“I’m kind of excited to be a fly on the wall in a room with Spielberg and Scorsese and all these people,” he said ahead of the Golden Globes.

From Los Angeles Times • Jan. 13, 2026

His notes show him wrestling with a decision he hadn’t let himself reckon with before: Was it time to stop being a fly on the wall and start taking action?

From Salon • Jan. 7, 2025

At 6′7″ tall, Smith knows he's rarely a fly on the wall when he arrives in a community with a camera.

From Scientific American • Oct. 17, 2023

He tries to be a fly on the wall, and lets us talk among ourselves, giving advice and guiding us only when he needs to.

From "Challenger Deep" by Neal Shusterman