gnat : Idioms & Phrases


Buffalo fly, ∨ Buffalo gnat

  • (Zoöl.), a small dipterous insect of the genus Simulium, allied to the black fly of the North. It is often extremely abundant in the lower part of the Mississippi valley and does great injury to domestic animals, often killing large numbers of cattle and horses. In Europe the Columbatz fly is a species with similar habits.
Webster 1913

buffalo gnat

  • noun small blackish stout-bodied biting fly having aquatic larvae; sucks the blood of birds as well as humans and other mammals
    blackfly; black fly.
WordNet

Fig gnat

  • (Zoöl.), a small fly said to be injurious to figs.
Webster 1913

fungus gnat

  • noun minute blackish gregarious flies destructive to mushrooms and seedlings
    sciarid; sciara.
  • noun mosquito-like insect whose larvae feed on fungi or decaying vegetation
WordNet

gall gnat

  • noun fragile mosquito-like flies that produce galls on plants
    gallfly; gall midge.
WordNet

Gnat catcher

  • (Zoöl.), one of several species of small American singing birds, of the genus Polioptila, allied to the kinglets.
Webster 1913

Gnat flower

  • the bee flower.
Webster 1913

Gnat hawk

  • (Zoöl.), the European goatsucker; called also gnat owl.
Webster 1913

Gnat snapper

  • (Zoöl.), a bird that catches gnats.
Webster 1913

Gnat strainer

  • a person ostentatiously punctilious about trifles. Cf. Matt. xxiii. 24.
Webster 1913

Moth gnat

  • (Zoöl.), a dipterous insect of the genus Bychoda, having fringed wings.
Webster 1913

Snow gnat

  • (Zoöl.), any wingless dipterous insect of the genus Chionea found running on snow in winter.
Webster 1913