Flags flying Souls?

Question

If I may hold your attention for the moment while I decode the seemingly cryptic title, I shall endeavour to make the question worth your while. I would like to know if I can use, both in speech and writing, the concept that "national flags *fly* souls". I read this once, as a comment on the British Empire: > *At the empire's height her flag **flew** more than five hundred million souls and over a quarter of the world.* Jingoistic connotations aside, (literally) a flag, the way I see it, cannot fly souls. However, I do think it does hold some poetic merit, so was looking to ask if I can justify writing in this fashion. Thank you.

Answer 1

You're absolutely right that a flag cannot fly people; even in a poetic sense it means nothing.

I think the original quote you read is simply missing a word (perhaps a typo by its original author). I think it was intended to be "At the empire's height, her flag flew OVER more than five hundred million souls and over a quarter of the world." This guess is supported by the fact that a second prepositional phrase which also starts with 'over.'