catch flies
Stand there gaping
To catch flies is to sit with one's mouth hanging open, looking foolish or inattentive: Close your mouth—you'll catch flies.
The image is of someone so slack-jawed that insects could wander in.
The phrase usually comes as a gentle rebuke for gaping or daydreaming.
- slack-jawedMouth open from shock
- gapeStare with mouth ajar
- captureTake into custody
- trapDevice for catching animals
- preoccupiedMentally elsewhere, not present
zone out · zoned out · daydream · lost in thought · ambush · open wide · oblivious · absent-minded · swat · nap · frog · inattentive · unaware · startled · stare · amazed · net · flustered