fly a kite—
1. say or do smth. with the intention of testing other people’s reaction to it:
- I thought that here I would fly a kite for a somewhat less-fashionable theory….
2. (sl.) pass a worthless check; sell worthless stocks and bonds:
- Marty was picked up for flying kites in three different cities.
3. (Underworld) smuggle a letter into or out of prison:
- This practice of “shooting” contraband notes is known among the prisoners as “flying a kite.”
go fly a kite —(also: go fry an egg ) is used to rudely tell a person to go away and stop being annoying:
- You are a real bother. Go fly a kite!