wouldn't hurt a fly

Related to wouldn't hurt a fly: at least, fly the coop, touch base, at the expense of, take it for granted, flies in the face

not hurt a fly

To harm nothing or no one. Said of one who is particularly gentle, shy, diffident, or timid by nature. My brother is a very sweet, warm-hearted man who wouldn't hurt a fly. How can you suspect him of committing this crime?
See also: fly, hurt, not
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.

wouldn't hurt a fly

or

wouldn't harm a fly

If someone wouldn't hurt a fly or wouldn't harm a fly, they are very kind and gentle. She was such a lovely girl, who wouldn't have hurt a fly. He is, he insists, a pacifist, who would not harm a fly.
See also: fly, hurt
Collins COBUILD Idioms Dictionary, 3rd ed.

wouldn't hurt (or harm) a fly

used to emphasize how inoffensive and harmless a person or animal is.
See also: fly, hurt
Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary

he, she, etc. wouldn’t harm/hurt a ˈfly

he, she, etc. is kind and gentle, and would not hurt anyone: The dog may look very fierce, but he wouldn’t hurt a fly.
See also: fly, harm, hurt
Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary
See also:
  • as one man
  • drive (one) out of office
  • force (one) out of office
  • force out of office
  • give (one) (one's) head
  • give head
  • give somebody their head
  • give someone their head
  • cooking for one
  • 1FTR
References in periodicals archive
Lynne Brown, 39, who had known Mr Hall for more than 30 years, said: "Jimmy was well liked in the community and the one thing people kept saying is that he wouldn't hurt a fly. He really was a gentle giant.
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Sleeping Partner (Pan, pounds 5.99) is set around the murder trial of Clarrie Morland - a nice, quiet, middle-class girl who apparently wouldn't hurt a fly.
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"Oh, he wouldn't hurt a fly," is the usual refrain of owners of these animals.
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DAVID Cameron praised the jailing of two men for four years for failed bids to incite rioting on Facebook - as relatives of one said: "He wouldn't hurt a fly."
CAMERON GRANDAD; AS PAIR GET 4 YEARS FOR FACEBOOK INCITEMENT.
One of them who lined up to touch the offending hand was Fr Sean Sheehy who said the pervert wouldn't hurt a fly.
A 'nice' abusive man
My cat wouldn't hurt a fly. We can't block the flap and lock him out all day."
FLAP OVER A CAT; BLACKLIST