lord of the flies

English

Etymology

The English-language translation of the Hebrew word בעל זבוב (ba'al-z'vúv, “fly-lord, Beelzebub”), which in turn is a mistranslation of the name of the Semitic devil Baal-zevuv.

Noun

lord of the flies

1. (idiomatic, biblical) a ruler over a worthless kingdom; leader of a meaningless microcosm.