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culture} To return to the consumption of an addictive, such as alcohol
or drugs, after a period of abstinence. * /Poor Joe has fallen off the
wagon again - he is completely incoherent today./
[fall on] or [fall upon] {v.} 1. To go and fight with; attack. *
/The robbers fell on him from behind trees./ 2. {formal} To meet
(troubles). * /The famous poet fell upon unhappy days./
[fallout] {n.} 1. Result of nuclear explosion; harmful radioactive
particles. * /Some experts consider fallout as dangerous as the bomb
itself./ 2. Undesirable aftereffects in general. * /As a fallout of
Watergate, many people lost their faith in the government./
[fall out] {v.} 1. To happen. * /As it fell out, the Harpers were
able to sell their old car./ Compare: TURN OUT(6). 2. To quarrel;
fight; fuss; disagree. * /The thieves fell out over the division of
the loot./ 3. To leave a military formation. * /You men are dismissed.
Fall out!/ Contrast: FALL IN. 4. To leave a building to go and line
up. * /The soldiers fell out of the barracks for inspection./
[fall over backwards] or [fall over oneself] {v. phr.} To do
everything you can to please someone; try very hard to satisfy
someone. * /The hotel manager fell over backwards to give the movie
star everything she wanted./ * /The boys fell over themselves trying
to get the new girl's attention./
[fall over yourself] See: FALL OVER BACKWARDS.
[fall short] {v.} To fail to reach (some aim); not succeed. * /His
jump fell three inches short of the world record./ * /The movie fell
short of expectations./ Contrast: MEASURE UP.
[fall through] {v.}, {informal} To fail; be ruined; not happen or
be done. * /Jim's plans to go to college fell through at the last
moment./ * /Mr. Jones' deal to sell his house fell through./ Contrast:
COME OFF.
[fall to] {v.} 1. To begin to work. * /The boys fell to and quickly
cut the grass./ Syn.: TURN TO. 2. To begin to fight. * /They took out
their swords and fell to./ 3. To begin to eat. * /The hungry boys fell
to before everyone sat down./ 4. Begin; start. * /The old friends met
and fell to talking about their school days./
[fall to pieces] {v. phr.} To disintegrate; collapse. * /After the
death of Alexander the Great, his empire started to fall to pieces./
[fall wide of the mark] See: WIDE OF THE MARK.
[false] See: PLAY ONE FALSE, SAIL UNDER FALSE COLORS.
[family] See: RUN IN THE BLOOD or RUN IN THE FAMILY, IN A FAMILY
WAY.
[family tree] {n.} Ancestry. * /My family tree can be traced back
to the sixteenth century./
[famine] See: FEAST OR A FAMINE.
[fancy doing something] - An expression of surprise. * /Fancy
meeting you here in such an unexpected place!/
[fancy pants] {n.}, {slang} A man or boy who wears clothes that are
too nice or acts like a woman or girl; sissy. * /The first time they
saw him in his new band uniform, they yelled "Hey, fancy pants, what
are you doing in your sister's slacks?"/
[fan] See: HIT THE FAN.
[fan out] {v. phr.} To spread in several directions. * /The main
road fans out at the edge of the forest in four different directions./
[fan the breeze] {v. phr.} 1. See: SHOOT THE BREEZE. 2. To swing
and miss the ball in baseball. * /The batter tried to hit a home run
but he fanned the breeze./
[far] See: AS FAR AS or SO FAR AS, SO FAR also THUS PAR, BY FAR,
FEW AND FAR BETWEEN, SO PAR, SO GOOD.
[far afield] {adj. phr.} Remote; far from the original starting
point. * /When we started to discuss theology. Jack was obviously
getting far afield from the subject at hand./
[far and away] {adv. phr.} Very much. * /The fish was far and away
the biggest ever caught on the lake./ Compare: BY FAR, HEAD AND
SHOULDERS(2).
[far and near] {n. phr.} Far places and near places; everywhere. *
/People came from far and near to hear him speak./
[far and wide] {adv. phr.} Everywhere, in all directions. * /The
wind blew the papers far and wide./ * /My old school friends are
scattered far and wide now./ * /The movie company looked far and wide
for a boy to act the hero in the new movie./ Compare: ALL OVER.
[farfetched] {adj.} Exaggerated; fantastic. * /Sally told us some
farfetched story about having been kidnapped by little green men in a
flying saucer./
[far cry] {n.} Something very different. * /His last statement was
a far cry from his first story./ * /The first automobile could run,
but it was a far cry from a modern car./
[far from it] {adv. phr.} Not even approximately; not really at
all. * /"Do you think she spent $100 on that dress?" Jane asked. "Far
from it," Sue replied. "It must have cost at least $300."/
[far gone] {adj. phr.} In a critical or extreme state. * /He was so
far gone by the time the doctor arrived, that nothing could be done to
save his life./
[farm] See: COLLECTIVE FARM.
[farm out] {v.} 1. To have another person do (something) for you;
send away to be done. * /Our teacher had too many test papers to read,
so she farmed out half of them to a friend./ 2. To send away to be
taken care of. * /While Mother was sick, the children were farmed out
to relatives./ 3. To send a player to a league where the quality of
play is lower. * /The player was farmed out to Rochester to gain
experience./
[far-out] {adj.} 1. Very far away; distant. * /Scientists are
planning rocket trips to the moon and far-out planets./ 2. {informal}
Very different from others; queer; odd, unusual. * /He enjoyed being
with beatniks and other far-out people./ * /Susan did not like some of
the paintings at the art show because they were too far-out for her./
[fashion] See: AFTER A FASHION, HIGH FASHION or HIGH STYLE.
[fast] See: HARD-AND-FAST, PLAY FAST AND LOOSE.
[fast and furious] {adj.} or {adv. phr.} Very fast; with much speed
and energy. * /He was mowing the grass at a fast and furious rate./ *
/When I last saw her she was driving fast and furious down the
street./ Compare: GREAT GUNS.
[fast buck] or [quick buck] {slang} Money earned quickly and
easily, and sometimes dishonestly. * /You can make a fast buck at the
golf course by fishing balls out of the water trap./ * /He isn't
interested in a career; he's just looking for a quick buck./
[fast talker] {n.}, {slang}, {informal} A con artist or a swindler,
one who is particularly apt to get away with illegitimate transactions
because of the clever way he talks. * /I wouldn't trust Uncle Joe if I
were you, - he is a fast talker./
[fast time] See: DAYLIGHT SAVING TIME.
[fasten on] {v. phr.} To attach; tie something to make it secure. *
/"Fasten on your life jackets when you get into the life boats," the
captain said./
[fat] See: CHEW THE FAT.
[fat chance] {n. phr.}, {slang} Little or no possibility; almost no
chance. * /A high school team would have a fat chance of beating a
strong college team./ * /Jane is pretty and popular; you will have a
fat chance of getting a date with her./ Compare: GHOST OF A.
[fat city] {n.}, {slang} A state of contentment due to wealth and
position. * /Bully for the Smiths; they have arrived in Fat City./
[fate] See: TEMPT FATE or TEMPT THE FATES.
[father] See: LIKE FATHER, LIKE SON.
[Father Christmas] {n.}, {British} The joyful spirit of Christmas;
Santa Claus. * /English children look forward to the visit of Father
Christmas./
[Father's Day] {n.} The third Sunday in June set aside especially
to honor fathers whether living or dead. * /The children gave nice
presents to their father on Father's Day./
[fat is in the fire] Something has happened that will cause trouble
or make a bad situation worse. * /He found out you took it? Well, the
fat's in the fire now./
[fat of the land] {n. phr.} The best and richest food, clothes,
everything. * /When I'm rich I'll retire and live off the fat of the
land./
[fault] See: AT FAULT, FIND FAULT, TO A FAULT.
[faultfinding] {n.} Recrimination; nagging; criticism. * /All of
this constant faultfinding will only to lead to trouble between you
and your wife./
[favor] See: CURRY FAVOR, IN FAVOR OF.
[favorite son] {n.} A man supported by his home state for
President. * /At a national convention, states often vote for their
favorite sons first; then they change and vote for another man./
[fear] See: FOR FEAR.
[fear and trembling] or [fear and trepidation] {n. phr.} Great
fear. * /He came in fear and trembling to tell his father he had a bad
report card./
[feast one's eyes on] {v. phr.} To look at and enjoy very much. *
/He feasted his eyes on the beautiful painting./
[feast or a famine] {n. phr.} Plenty or very little; big success or
bad failure. * /In this business it's either a feast or a famine./ *
/He is very careless with his money, it is always a feast or a famine
with him./
[feather] See: BIRDS OF A FEATHER FLOCK TOGETHER, TAR AND FEATHER,
FINE FEATHERS DO NOT MAKE FINE BIRDS, FUSS AND FEATHERS, MAKE THE
FEATHERS FLY, RUFFLE FEATHERS.
[feather in one's cap] {n. phr.} Something to be proud of; an
honor. * /It was a feather in his cap to win first prize./ (From the
medieval practice of placing a feather in the helmet of one who won
honors in battle.)
[feather one's nest] {v. phr.}, {informal} 1. To use for yourself
money and power, especially from a public office or job in which you
are trusted to help other people. * /The rich man told his lawyer to
use his money after he died to build a hospital for poor people, but
the lawyer feathered his own nest with the money instead./ * /The man
feathered his nest in politics by getting money from contractors who
built roads./ Syn.: LINE ONE'S POCKETS. 2. To make your home pleasant
and comfortable; furnish and decorate your house. * /Furniture stores
welcome young couples who want to feather their nests./
[fed up] ({informal}) also ({slang}) [fed to the gills] or [fed to
the teeth] {adj. phr.} Having had too much of something; at the end of
your patience; disgusted; bored; tired. * /People get fed up with
anyone who brags all the time./ * /I've had enough of his complaints.
I'm fed up./ * /He was fed to the teeth with television and sold his
set to a cousin./ * /John quit football because he was fed to the
gills with practice./ Compare: SICK AND TIRED.
[feed] See: BITE THE HAND THAT FEEDS ONE, CHICKEN FEED, OFF FEED or
OFF ONE'S FEED, SPOON FEED.
[feel] See: GET THE FEEL OF and HARD FEELING.
[feel a draft] {v. phr.}, {slang} To have the sensation that one is
not welcome in a place; that one has gotten a cold reception. * /Let's
go, Suzie, I feel a draft./
[feel for someone] {v. phr.}, {informal} To be able to sympathize
with someone's problems. * /I can really feel for you, John, for
losing your job./
[feel free to do] {v. phr.} To take the liberty to engage in an
activity. * /Please feel free to take off your jackets; this is an
informal party./
[feel in one's bones] or [know in one's bones] {v. phr.} To have an
idea or feeling but not know why. * /I feel in my hones that tomorrow
will be a sunny day./ * /I know in my bones that God will protect us./
[feel like] {v.}, {informal} To want to do or have. * /I don't feel
like running today./ * /I just don't feel like pancakes this morning./
[feel like a million] or [feel like a million dollars] {v. phr.},
{informal} To be in the best of health and spirits. * /I feel like a
million this morning./ * /He had a headache yesterday but feels like a
million dollars today./ Compare: LOOK LIKE A MILLION.
[feel like a new man] {v. phr.} To feel healthy, vigorous, and well
again after a major physical illness or emotional upheaval. * /Ted
felt like a new man after his successful heart bypass operation./
[feel like two cents] See: TWO CENTS.
[feel low] {v. phr.} To be depressed; be in low spirits. * /I don't
know what's the matter with Mary, but she says she has been feeling
very low all afternoon./
[feel no pain] {v. phr.}, {slang} To be drunk. * /After a few
drinks, the man felt no pain and began to act foolishly./
[feel one's oats] {v. phr.}, {slang} 1. To feel frisky or playful;
be eager and excited. * /The horses were feeling their oats./ * /When
they first got to camp, the boys were feeling their oats./ 2. To act
in a proud or important way. * /The new gardener was feeling his oats
and started to boss the other men./
[feel one's way] {v. phr.} To proceed cautiously by trial and
error; probe. * /I won't ask her to marry me directly; I will feel my
way first./
[feel] or [look small] {v. phr.} To have the impression that one is
insignificant, foolish, or humiliated. * /"I feel small next to
Hemingway," the young student of creative writing said./
[feel out] {v.} To talk or act carefully with someone and find what
he thinks or can do. * /The pupils felt out the principal about a
party after the game./ * /John felt out his father about letting him
have the car that evening./ * /At first the boxers felt each other
out./ Compare: SOUND OUT.
[feel out of place] {v. phr.} To experience the sensation of not
belonging in a certain place or company. * /Dave felt out of place
among all those chess players as he knows nothing about chess./
[feel the pinch] {v. phr.} To be short of money; experience
monetary difficulties. * /If we are going to have a recession,
everybody will feel the pinch./
[feel up] {v. phr.}, {vulgar}, {avoidable} To arouse sexually by
manual contact. * /You mean to tell me that you've been going out for
six months and he hasn't ever tried to feel you up?/ Contrast: COP A
FEEL.
[feel up to something] {v. phr.}, {informal} To feel adequately
knowledgeable, strong, or equipped to handle a given task. * /Do you
feel up to jogging a mile a day with me?/ Contrast: BE UP TO
SOMETHING.
[feet] See: FOOT.
[feet of clay] {n. phr.} A hidden fault or weakness in a person
which is discovered or shown. * /The famous general showed he had feet
of clay when he began to drink liquor./ * /The banker seemed to be
honest, but he had feet of clay and was arrested for stealing./
[feet on the ground] {n. phr.} An understanding of what can be
done; sensible ideas. Used with a possessive. * /John has his feet on
the ground; he knows he cannot learn everything at once./ * /Ted
dreams of sudden riches, but Henry keeps his feet on the ground and
expects to work for his money./ * /Mrs. Smith was a dreamer, but her
husband was a man with his feet on the ground./ Contrast: IN THE
CLOUDS.
[fell] See: AT ONE FELL SWOOP.
[fellow] See: HAIL-FELLOW-WELL-MET, REGULAR GUY or REGULAR FELLOW.
[fellow traveller] {n.} A sympathizer with a political movement who
does not officially belong to the political party in question. * /Many
Germans after World War II were innocently accused of being fellow
travellers of Nazism./ * /During the McCarthy era, many Americans were
accused of being Communist fellow travellers./
[fence] See: GRASS IS ALWAYS GREENER ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE
FENCE, MEND ONE'S FENCES, ON THE FENCE.
[fence in] or [hedge in] or [hem in] {v.} To keep (someone) from
doing what he or she would like to do. Usually used in the passive. *
/Mary felt fenced in because her father would not let her drive a car
or have dates with boys./ * /John didn't like his job because he had
to do the same kind of work all the time. He felt that he was hemmed
in./
[fence-sitter] {n.} A person unable to pick between two sides; a
person who does not want to choose. * /Daddy says he is a fence-sitter
because he doesn't know which man he wants for President./
[fence-sitting] {n.} or {adj.} Choosing neither side. * /You have
been fence-sitting for too long. It is time you made up your mind./
Contrast: MAKE UP ONE'S MIND, TAKE SIDES.
[fence with] or [spar with] {v.} To talk with (someone) as if you
were fighting like a swordsman or boxer; to give skillful answers or
arguments against (someone). * /The governor was an expert at fencing
with reporters at press conferences./
[ferret out] {literary} or [smell out] or [sniff out] {v.} To hunt
or drive from hiding; to bring out into the open; search for and find.
* /John ferreted out the answer to the question in the library./ *
/Jane smelled out the boys' secret hiding place in the woods./
[few] See: MAN OF FEW WORDS, NOT A FEW, QUITE A FEW.
[few and far between] {adj. phr.} Not many; few and scattered; not
often met or found; rare. - Used in the predicate. * /People who will
work as hard as Thomas A. Edison are few and far between./ * /Places
where you can get water are few and far between in the desert./ *
/Really exciting games are few and far between./
[fickle finger of fate] See: ACT OF GOD.
[fiddle] See: PLAY SECOND FIDDLE.
[fiddle around] See: FOOL AROUND(3).
[fiddler] See: PAY THE PIPER or PAY THE FIDDLER.
[fiddle with] {v. phr.} To carelessly play with something. * /If
Jimmy continues to fiddle with our computer, he is liable to ruin it./
[field] See: CENTER FIELD, LEFT FIELD, OUT IN LEFT FIELD, PLAY THE
FIELD, RIGHT FIELD.
[field goal] {n.} 1. A score in football made by kicking the ball
over the bar between the goal posts. * /The Giants were not able to
make a touchdown but they kicked two field goals./ Compare: EXTRA
POINT. 2. A score in basketball made by a successful shot through the
basket not made on a free throw. * /A field goal counts two points./
Compare: FOUL SHOT, FREE THROW.
[fifth] See: TAKE THE FIFTH.
[fifth column] {n. phr.} A group or organization within a country
that works to bring about the country's downfall, usually through acts
of espionage and sabotage. * /The Communist party in the United States
was considered by Senator McCarthy to be the Soviet Union's fifth
column./
[flfty-flfty(1)] {adv.}, {informal} Equally; evenly. * /The two
boys divided the marbles they won fifty-fifty./ * /When Dick and Sam
bought an old car, they divided the cost fifty-fifty./
[fifty-fifty(2)] {adj.}, {informal} 1. Divided or shared equally. *
/It will be a fifty-fifty arrangement; half the money for me and half
for you./ 2. Half for and half against; half good and half bad. *
/There is only a fifty-fifty chance that we will win the game./
Compare: HALF AND HALF.
[fight against time] See: RACING TO STAND STILL.
[fight fire with fire] {v. phr.}, {slightly formal}, {of Biblical
origin} To fight back in the same way one was attacked; make a defense
similar to the attack. * /The candidate was determined to fight fire
with fire in the debate./
[fight it out] See: SLUG IT OUT.
[fighting chance] {n. phr.} A chance that necessitates struggle and
courage; a slim chance. * /The doctor told the family that Jack had a
fighting chance to recover./ * /Our business lost a lot of money, but
we have a fighting chance to stage a comeback./
[fight off] {v. phr.} 1. To struggle against someone so as to free
oneself; push an attacker back. * /Suzy fought off her two attackers
in Central Park with a couple of karate chops./ 2. To strive to
overcome something negative. * /After twelve hours at the computer
terminal, Jane had to fight off her overwhelming desire to go to
sleep./
[fight shy of] {v. phr.} To avoid; escape from. * /Jack always
fights shy of anything that even remotely resembles serious work./
[fight tooth and nail] See: TOOTH AND NAIL.
[figure in] {v.} 1. {informal} To add to a total; remember to put
down in figures. * /We figured in the travel expenses but forgot the
cost of meals./ 2. To have a part in; be partly responsible for. *
/Joe figured in all our touchdowns./ * /Mary's good grades figured in
her choice as class president./
[figure on] {v.} 1. To expect and think about while making plans. *
/We did not figure on having so many people at the picnic./ * /He
figured on going to town the next day./ Syn.: PLAN ON. 2. To depend
on; be; sure about. * /You can figure on him to be on time./ Syn.:
COUNT ON.
[figure out] {v.} 1. To find an answer by thinking about (some
problem or difficulty); solve. * /Tom couldn't figure out the last
problem on the arithmetic test./ * /Sam couldn't figure out how to
print a program until the teacher showed him how./ * /Mary couldn't
figure out why her cake tasted so funny until she found salt mixed in
the sugar bag./ Compare: FIND OUT(1). 2. To learn how to explain;
understand. * /Laurence is an odd boy; I can't figure him out./
Compare: MAKE OUT(2).
[figure up] {v. phr.} To calculate; add up. * /If you can figure up
how many phone calls I've made from your home, I will pay you right
away./
[fill in] {v.} 1. To write words needed in blanks; put in; fill. *
/You should fill in all the blanks on an application for a job./ 2.
{informal} To tell what you should know. * /The new boy didn't know
the rules so Bob filled him in./ * /The teacher filled in Mary about
class work done while she was sick./ 3. To take another's place;
substitute. * /The teacher was sick and Miss Jones filled in for her./
[fill (in) the gap] {v. phr.} To supply a missing piece of
information; provide a clue during the course of solving a mystery. *
/Sherlock Holmes said, "These fingerprints are bound to fill the gap
in our investigation."/
[fill one's shoes] {v. phr.} To take the place of another and do as
well; to substitute satisfactorily for. * /When Jack got hurt, the
coach had nobody to fill his shoes./ * /Joe hopes to fill his father's
shoes./ See: IN ONE'S SHOES.
[fill out] {v.} 1. To put in what is missing; complete; finish;
{especially}, to complete (a printed application blank or other form)
by writing the missing facts in the blank spaces; to write down facts
which are asked for in (a report or application.) * /After Tom passed
his driving test he filled out an application for his driver's
license./ * /The policeman filled out a report of the accident./ 2. To
become heavier and fatter; gain weight. * /When Bill was nineteen he
began to fill out./ * /The girl was pale and thin after her sickness,
but in a few months she filled out./
[fill the bases] See: LOAD THE BASES.
[fill the bill] {v. phr.}, {informal} To be just what is needed; be
good enough for something; be just right. * /The boss was worried
about hiring a deaf boy, but after he tried Tom out for a few weeks,
he said that Tom filled the bill./ * /I thought I would need a special
tool, but this wrench fills the bill./
[fill up] or [fill it up] or [fill her up] {v. phr.} To fill
entirely. (Said by the driver of a car to a gas station attendant). *
/When the attendant asked Andrew how much gas he wanted in the tank,
Andrew replied, "Fill her up."/
[filthy lucre] {n.}, {informal} Money, especially when thought of
as bad or shameful. * /When the rich gambler tried to make Sarah marry
him, she said, "Keep your filthy lucre - I shall marry the man I
love."/ - Sometimes used in a joking way. * /"Come and let's get rid
of some filthy lucre."/
[filthy rich] {adj. phr.} Extremely rich but without cultural
refinement; nouveau riche. * /"The Murgatroyds are filthy rich," Ted
complained. "They are rolling in money but they never learned how to
behave properly at a dinner table."/
[finders keepers] or [finders keepers, losers weepers] {informal}
Those who find lost things can keep them. - Used usually by children
to claim the right to keep something they have found. * /I don't have
to give it back; it's finders keepers./ * /Finders keepers, losers
weepers! It's my knife now!/
[find fault] {v. phr.} To find something wrong; complain;
criticize. * /She tries to please him, but he always finds fault./ *
/They found fault with every box I made./ Compare: JUMP ON, PICK
AT(3).
[find it in one's heart] {v. phr.} To be able or willing because of
your nature. * /He could not find it in his heart to tell her about
her mother's death./ * /Can you find it in your heart to forgive me?/
* /He could never find it in his heart to be mean to a dog./
[find one's ---] {v. phr.} To become able to use (some power of the
body or mind.) * /In the program for the parents, John was nervous and
could not speak at first; then he found his tongue./ * /The young bird
had just found its wings./ * /The baby was just beginning to find his
feet./ * /The question surprised him, and it was a minute before he
found his tongue./
[find oneself] {v. phr.} To find out what one is fitted for and
succeed in that. * /Mary tried several lines of work, but at last
found herself as a teacher./ * /Sometimes young people move around a
long time from job to job before they find themselves./
[find] or [get one's bearings] {v. phr.} To know where one is or
where one is headed. * /"Without a compass," the sergeant warned the
enlisted men, "you will never find your bearings in the desert."/
[find out] {v.} 1. To learn or discover (something you did not know
before.) * /One morning the baby found out for the first time that she
could walk./ * /I don't know how this car works, but I'll soon find
out./ * /He watched the birds to find out where they go./ * /Mary was
angry when Jane found out her secret./ 2. To get facts; to get facts
about. * /He wrote to find out about a job in Alaska./ * /She found
out how much the house would cost./ 3. To discover (someone) doing
wrong; catch. * /Some children are bad when no one is watching them,
but they are usually found out./ * /The boy knew that if he cheated on
the test the teacher would find him out./
[find out the hard way] See: HARD WAY.
[fine feathers do not make fine birds] {literary} A person who
wears fine clothes may not be as good as he looks. - A proverb. *
/Mary is pretty and she wears pretty clothes, but she is very mean.
Fine feathers do not make fine birds./ Compare: HANDSOME IS AS
HANDSOME DOES.
[fine kettle of fish] See: KETTLE OF FISH.
[fine-tooth comb] {n. phr.} Great care; careful attention so as not
to miss anything. * /The police searched the scene of the crime with a
fine-tooth comb for clues./ * /My room is so clean you couldn't find
dirt if you went over it with a fine-tooth comb./ Compare: LEAVE NO
STONE UNTURNED.
[finger] See: BURN ONE'S FINGERS, CROSS ONE'S FINGERS or KEEP ONE'S
FINGERS CROSSED, LAY A FINGER ON, LIFT A FINGER, PUT ONE'S FINGER ON
also LAY ONE'S FINGER ON, SLIP THROUGH ONE'S FINGERS, SNAP ONE'S
FINGERS AT, STICKY FINGERS, TWIST AROUND ONE'S LITTLE FINGER, WORK
ONE'S FINGERS TO THE BONE.
[finger in the pie] {n. phr.}, {informal} Something to do with what
happens; part interest or responsibility. * /When the girls got up a
Christmas party, I felt sure Alice had a finger in the pie./ * /The
Jones Company was chosen to build the new hospital and we knew Mr.
Smith had a finger in the pie./ * /Jack is a boy with a finger in
every pie at school, from dramatics to football./ Compare: HAVE A HAND
IN, TOO MANY IRONS IN THE FIRE.
[fingertip] See: AT ONE'S FINGERTIPS.
[finish up] See: END UP(4).
[fire] See: BALL OF FIRE, BETWEEN THE DEVIL AND THE DEEP BLUE SEA
or BETWEEN TWO FIRES, BUILD A FIRE UNDER, BURNT CHILD DREADS THE FIRE,
CATCH FIRE, DRAW FIRE, FAT'S IN THE FIRE, FIGHT FIRE WITH FIRE, HANG
FIRE, HEAP COALS OF FIRE ON ONE'S HEAD, HOLD ONE'S FIRE or HOLD FIRE,
IRON IN THE FIRE, KEEP THE HOME FIRES BURNING, LINE OF FIRE, ON FIRE,
OPEN FIRE, OUT OF THE FRYING PAN INTO THE FIRE, PLAY WITH FIRE, PULL
ONE'S CHESTNUTS OUT OF THE FIRE, SET FIRE TO, SET THE WORLD ON FIRE,
TILL THE LAST GUN IS FIRED or UNTIL THE LAST GUN IS FIRED, UNDER FIRE.
[firebug] {n.} An arsonist; one who willfully sets fire to
property. * /The police caught the firebug just as he was about to set
another barn ablaze in the country./
[firing squad] {n.} A group of soldiers chosen to shoot a prisoner
to death or to fire shots over a grave as a tribute. * /A dictator
often sends his enemies before a firing squad./ * /The dead general
was honored by a firing squad./
[first] See: AT FIRST BLUSH, AT FIRST SIGHT, CAST THE FIRST STONE,
GET TO FIRST BASE or REACH FIRST BASE, IN THE FIRST PLACE, OF THE
FIRST WATER.
[firsthand] {adj.} Fresh; genuine; from the original source. *
/John says he got the information firsthand from the president
himself./
[first and foremost] {adv. phr.} As the most important thing;
first. * /First and foremost they needed food./ * /I want you to
remember to pay that bill first and foremost./ * /First and foremost,
we must keep America free./
[first and last] {adv. phr.} Most noticeably; all the time;
chiefly. * /He was first and last a school teacher./ * /Steven joined
the army because first and last he wanted to help his country./ Syn.:
ABOVE ALL.
[first base] {n. phr.} 1. The base that must be touched first by a
baseball player after batting. * /He got to first base on four balls./
2. See: GET TO FIRST BASE.
[first class] {n.} 1. The first rank; the highest class; the best
group. * /The pianist was quite good but he was not in the first
class./ 2. The most expensive or comfortable class of travel; the best
or one of the best groups in which to travel, especially by ship,
train, or airplane. * /Most people can't afford the first class when
they take a long journey by ship./ 3. The way of sending all mail that
includes letters and post cards, anything written by hand or
typewriter, and anything sealed so that it cannot be inspected, and
that is the most expensive class of mail but receives the best
treatment. * /The usual way to send a letter is by first class./
Compare: SECOND CLASS, THIRD CLASS.
[first-class(1)] {adj.} 1. Of the highest class or best kind;
excellent; first-rate. * /Jane did a first-class job of repairing the
coat./ * /It was a first-class TV program./ Compare: TOP-NOTCH. 2. Of
the best or most expensive class of travelling. * /Mr. Jones bought a
first-class plane ticket to Chicago./ 3. Belonging to the class of
mail for sending letters, post cards, and handwritten or typewritten
mail that is sealed. * /It is expensive to send a heavy letter by
first-class mail./
[first-class(2)] {adv.} With the best material; in the best or most
expensive way. * /When Mr. Van Smith goes anywhere he always travels
first-class./ * /"How did you send the package?" "First-class."/
[first come, first served] {truncated sent.}, {informal} If you
arrive first, you will be served first; people will be waited on in
the order they come; the person who comes first will have his turn
first. * /Get in line for your ice cream, boys. First come, first
served./ * /The rule in the restaurant is first come, first served./ *
/The team's owners announced that tickets for the World Series would
be sold on a first come, first served basis only./ * /There are only a
few seats left so it's first come, first served./ Compare: EARLY BIRD
CATCHES THE WORM.
[first cousin] {n.} The child of your aunt or uncle. * /Tom's only
first cousin was Ralph, the son of his Uncle John./
[first of all] {adv. phr.} Chiefly; primarily; as the first thing.
* /After we get to Chicago, we will, first of all, try to find a
reliable used car./
[first off] {adv. phr.}, {informal} Before anything else; first. *
/First off, I want you to mow the lawn./
[first-run] {adj. phr.} Shown for the first time; new. * /The local
theater showed only first-run movies./
[first stone] See: CAST THE FIRST STONE.
[first string(1)] {n.}, {informal} 1. The best group of players on
a team; first team; A team. * /Dick loved basketball and practiced
hard until he was put on the first string./ 2. The best group of
workers. * /Tom learned his trade so well that his boss soon called
him one of his first string./
[first-string] {adj.}, {informal} 1. On the starting team or A
team. * /He was the first-string quarterback./ 2. Of the best quality;
foremost. * /He was the least expensive of the city's first-string
lawyers./
[first thing off the bat] {adv. phr.} Immediately; at once. * /He
called home from Paris first thing off the bat as he stepped off the
plane./
[first things first] Other things must wait until the most
important and necessary things are done. * /Study your lessons before
you go out to play. First things first./
[fish] See: COLD FISH, KETTLE OF FISH, NEITHER FISH NOR FOWL, NOT
THE ONLY FISH IN THE SEA, OTHER FISH TO FRY.
[fish-and-chips] {n. phr.} Fried fish and french fried potatoes. *
/The family went to a drive-in restaurant and had fish-and-chips./
[fish for] {v.}, {informal} To try to get or to find out
(something), by hinting or by a roundabout way to try to lead someone
else to give or tell you what you want by hinting. * /Jerry was always
fishing for an invitation to Bob's house./ * /Near examination time,
some of the students fish for information./
[fish for a compliment] {v, phr.} To try to make someone pay a
compliment. * /When Jim showed me his new car, I could tell that he
was fishing for a compliment./
[fish fry] {n.} An outdoor party or picnic at which fish are fried
and eaten. * /The guests at the fish fry caught and cooked their own
fish./
[fish in muddy] or [troubled waters] {v. phr.} To take advantage of
a troubled or confusing situation; seek personal advantage. * /With
the police disorganized after the collapse of communism in Europe,
many criminals started to fish in troubled waters./
[fish or cut bait] {v. phr.}, {informal} 1. Decide what you want to
do and stop wasting time; either act now or give someone else a chance
or turn. * /Jack couldn't decide whether to go to college or get a
job, so his father told him to fish or cut bait./ * /"Buy the kind of
ice cream you want or give someone else in line a chance. Fish or cut
bait!"/ Compare: MAKE UP ONE'S MIND. 2. Either try hard and do your
best, or quit. * /Frank missed football practice so often that the
coach told him to fish or cut bait./
[fish out of water] {n. phr.} A person who is out of his proper
place in life; someone who does not fit in. * /Because Ed could not
swim, he felt like a fish out of water at the beach./ * /She was the
only girl at the party not in a formal dress and she felt like a fish
out of water./ Compare: OUT OF ONE'S ELEMENT, OUT OF PLACE.
[fish story] {n. phr.} An unlikely or improbable tale. * /Hunters
and fishermen often exaggerate their successes by telling fish
stories./
[fist] See: HARD-FISTED.
[fit] See: BY FITS AND STARTS, GIVE PITS, HAVE A FIT or HAVE FITS,
IF THE SHOE FITS, WEAR IT, SEE FIT also THINK FIT, SURVIVAL OF THE
FITTEST.
[fit as a fiddle] {adj. phr.} In very good health. * /The man was
almost 90 years old but fit as a fiddle./ * /Mary rested at home for a
few weeks after her operation; then she felt fit as a fiddle./
[fit for] {v. phr.} To be suited for; be prepared for. * /"What
kind of job is Ted fit for?" the social worker asked./
[fit in with] {v. phr.} To fall into agreement or accord with. *
/His plans to take a vacation in early July fit in perfectly with the
university schedule./
[fit like a glove] {v. phr.} To fit perfectly. * /Her new dress
fits her like a glove./
[fit out] or [fit up] {v.} To give things needed; furnish. * /The
soldiers were fitted out with guns and clothing./ * /The government
fitted out warships and got sailors for them./ * /The house was fitted
out very nicely./ * /He fitted his room up as a photographic
laboratory./
[fit the bill] See: FILL THE BILL.
[fit to a T] See: TO A T.
[fit to be tied(1)] {adj. phr.}, {informal} Very angry or upset. *
/She was fit to be tied when she saw the broken glass./
[fit to be tied(2)] {adv. phr.}, {substandard} Very hard. - Used
for emphasis. * /Uncle Willie was laughing fit to be tied at the
surprised look on Mother's face./
[five o'clock shadow] {n. phr.} A very short growth of beard on a
man's face who did shave in the morning but whose beard is so strong
that it is again visible in the afternoon. * /"You have a five o'clock
shadow, honey," Irene said, "and we're going to the opera. Why don't
you shave again quickly?"/
[fix] See: GET A FIX or GIVE SOMEONE A FIX, GET A FIX ON.
[fix someone's wagon] or [fix someone's little red wagon] {v.
phr.}, {informal} 1. (Said to a child as a threat) to administer a
spanking. * /Stop that right away or I'll fix your (little red)
wagon!/ 2. (Said of an adult) to thwart or frustrate another, to
engineer his failure. * /If he sues me for slander, I will counter-sue
him for malicious prosecution. That will fix his wagon!/
[fix someone up with] {v. phr.}, {informal} To help another get a
date with a woman or man by arranging a meeting for the two. * /Say
Joe, can you possibly fix me up with someone this weekend? I am so
terribly lonesome!/
[fix up] {v. phr.} 1. To repair. * /The school is having the old
gym fixed up./ 2. To arrange. * /I think I can fix it up with the
company so that John gets the transfer he desires. /3. To arrange a
date that might lead to a romance or even to marriage. * /Mary is a
great matchmaker; she fixed up Ron and Betty at her recent party./
[fizzle out] {v.}, {informal} 1. To stop burning; die out. * /The
fuse fizzled out before exploding the firecracker./ 2. To fail after a
good start; end in failure. * /The power mower worked fine for a while
but then it fizzled out./ * /The party fizzled out when everyone went
home early./
[flag down] {v.}, {informal} To stop by waving a signal flag or as
if waving a signal flag. * /The signalman flagged down the freight
train./ * /A policeman flagged down the car with his flashlight./
[flakeball] or [flake] {n.}, {slang}, {drug culture} A disjointed,
or "flaky" person, who is forgetful and incoherent, as if under the
influence of narcotics. * /Hermione is a regular flakeball./ Compare:
SPACED OUT.
[flame] See: ADD FUEL TO THE FLAME, GO UP IN FLAMES.
[flanker back] {n.} A football back who can play far to the outside
of his regular place. * /The coach is still looking for a speedy boy
to play flanker back./
[flare up] {v.} 1. To burn brightly for a short time especially
after having died down. * /The fire flared up again and then died./ 2.
To become suddenly angry. * /The mayor flared up at the reporter's
remark./ * /The mother flared up at her children./ 3. To begin again
suddenly, especially for a short time after a quiet time. * /Mr.
Gray's arthritis flared up sometimes./ * /Even after they had
conquered the country, revolts sometimes flared up./
[flare-up] {n.} The reoccurrence of an infection or an armed
conflict. * /He had a flare-up of his arthritis./ * /There was a bad
flare-up of hostilities in some countries./
[flash] See: IN A FLASH.
[flash card] {n.} A card with numbers or words on it that is used
in teaching, a class. * /The teacher used flash cards to drill the
class in addition./
[flash in the pan] {n. phr.}, {slang} A person or thing that starts
out well but does not continue. * /The new quarterback was a flash in
the pan./ * /Mary got 100 on the first test in arithmetic but it was
just a flash in the pan because she failed in arithmetic./
[flat] See: FALL FLAT, IN NO TIME or IN NOTHING FLAT, LEAVE FLAT.
[flat as a pancake] {adj. phr.} Very level; very flat; having no
mountains or hills. * /A great part of the American Midwest is as flat
as a pancake./
[flat broke] See: STONE-BROKE.
[flatfoot] {n.}, {slang}, {derogatory} A policeman. * /"What does
Joe do for a living? - He's a flatfoot."/
[flat-footed] {adj.}, {informal} 1. Straightforward; forthright;
direct; outright. * /The governor issued a flat-footed denial of the
accusation./ * /He came out flat-footed against the idea./ 2. Not
ready; not prepared; - usually used with "catch". * /The teacher's
question caught Tim flat-footed./ * /Unexpected company at lunch time
caught Mrs. Green flat-footed./
[flat-out] {adv. phr.}, {informal} 1. Without hiding anything;
plainly; openly. * /The student told his teacher flat-out that he was
not listening to her./ 2. At top speed; as fast as possible. * /He saw
two men running flat-out from the wild rhinoceros./
[flatter oneself] To be sure of your own talent or skill; highly
confident. * /I flatter myself that I am a better swimmer than he is./
[flea in one's ear] {n. phr.}, {informal} An idea or answer that is
not welcome; an annoying or surprisingly sharp reply or hint. * /I'll
put a flea in his ear if he bothers me once more./
[flea market] {n. phr.} A place where antiques, second-hand things,
and cheap articles are sold, and especially one in the open air. *
/The local antique dealers held a flea market and fair on the
high-school athletic field./ * /There are many outdoor flea markets in
Europe./
[flesh] See: IN PERSON also IN THE FLESH, NEITHER FISH NOR FOWL
also NEITHER FISH, FLESH, NOR FOWL, PRESS THE FLESH, THORN IN THE
FLESH.
[flesh and blood] {n.} 1. A close relative (as a father, daughter,
brother); close relatives. Used in the phrase "one's own flesh and
blood". * /Such an answer from her - and she's my own flesh and blood,
too!/ 2. The appearance of being real or alive. * /The author doesn't
give his characters any flesh and blood./ 3. The human body. * /Before
child labor laws, small children often worked 50 or 60 hours a week in
factories. It was more than flesh and blood could bear./
[flesh out] {v.}, {informal} 1. To add to; make fuller, bigger, or
longer. * /The author fleshed out his story by adding more about his
war experiences./ 2. also [flesh up] To become heavier, put on weight,
or flesh. * /He lost weight after his illness but is beginning to
flesh out again./ See: FILL OUT.
[flesh up] See: FLESH OUT(2).
[fling oneself at] See: THROW ONESELF AT.
[fling oneself at someone's head] See: THROW ONESELF AT SOMEONE'S
HEAD.
[flip-flop(1)] {v.}, {informal} To alternate the positions of;
exchange the places of; switch. * /The football coach had one play in
which he flip-flopped his left halfback and fullback./
[flip-flop(2)] {n.}, {informal} A complete change; a switch from
one thing to an entirely different one. * /John wanted to be a
carpenter like his father, but when he saw the print shop he did a
flip-flop and now he's learning printing./
[flip-flop(3)] {adj. phr.}, {informal} Involving or using a change
from one of two places, positions, or alternatives to the other. *
/The machine was controlled by a flip-flop switch./ * /The football
coach hoped to surprise his opponents by using a flip-flop offense./
[flip one's lid] also [flip one's wig] {slang} 1. To lose one's
temper. * /When that pushy salesman came back Mom really flipped her
lid./ Compare: BLOW A FUSE. 2. To lose your mind; become insane. *
/When he offered me three times the pay I was getting, I thought he
had flipped his lid./ 3. To become unreasonably enthusiastic. * /She
flipped her lid over a hat she saw in the store window./ * /He's
flipped his lid over that new actress./
[flip out] {v. phr.}, {slang}, {informal} To go insane, to go out
of one's mind. * /A is impossible to talk to Joe today - he must have
flipped out./
[flock] See: BIRDS OF A FEATHER FLOCK TOGETHER.
[floor] See: GROUND FLOOR, MOP THE FLOOR WITH, WALK THE FLOOR.
[floor one] {v. phr.} To overwhelm; astound; nonplus. * /John's
sudden announcement that he would retire floored all of us in the
office./
[floorwalker] {n.} A section manager in a department store. * /To
exchange this pair of shoes, you must first get the floorwalker's
approval./
[flop] See: FLIP-FLOP.
[flower child] {n.}, {slang}, {informal} 1. A young person who
believes in nonviolence and carries flowers around to symbolize his
peace-loving nature. * /Flower children are supposed to be nonviolent,
but they sure make a lot of noise when they demonstrate!/ 2. Any
person who cannot cope with reality. * /"Face facts, Suzie, stop being
such a flower child!"/
[flower power] {n.}, {slang} The supposed power of love and
nonviolence as intended to be used by members of the anti-culture to
change American society. * /The young people were marching for flower
power./
[fluff one's lines] See: BLOW ONE'S LINES.
[fluff stuff] {n.}, {slang}, {citizen's band radio jargon} Snow. *
/We can expect some fluff stuff this afternoon./
[flunk out] {v. phr.} To have to withdraw from school or college
because of too many failing grades. * /Fred flunked out of college
during his junior year./
[flush it] {v. phr.}, {slang} 1. To fail (something). * /I really
flushed it in my math course./ 2. {interj.}, {used imperatively}
Expression registering refusal to believe something considered stupid
or drugs, after a period of abstinence. * /Poor Joe has fallen off the
wagon again - he is completely incoherent today./
[fall on] or [fall upon] {v.} 1. To go and fight with; attack. *
/The robbers fell on him from behind trees./ 2. {formal} To meet
(troubles). * /The famous poet fell upon unhappy days./
[fallout] {n.} 1. Result of nuclear explosion; harmful radioactive
particles. * /Some experts consider fallout as dangerous as the bomb
itself./ 2. Undesirable aftereffects in general. * /As a fallout of
Watergate, many people lost their faith in the government./
[fall out] {v.} 1. To happen. * /As it fell out, the Harpers were
able to sell their old car./ Compare: TURN OUT(6). 2. To quarrel;
fight; fuss; disagree. * /The thieves fell out over the division of
the loot./ 3. To leave a military formation. * /You men are dismissed.
Fall out!/ Contrast: FALL IN. 4. To leave a building to go and line
up. * /The soldiers fell out of the barracks for inspection./
[fall over backwards] or [fall over oneself] {v. phr.} To do
everything you can to please someone; try very hard to satisfy
someone. * /The hotel manager fell over backwards to give the movie
star everything she wanted./ * /The boys fell over themselves trying
to get the new girl's attention./
[fall over yourself] See: FALL OVER BACKWARDS.
[fall short] {v.} To fail to reach (some aim); not succeed. * /His
jump fell three inches short of the world record./ * /The movie fell
short of expectations./ Contrast: MEASURE UP.
[fall through] {v.}, {informal} To fail; be ruined; not happen or
be done. * /Jim's plans to go to college fell through at the last
moment./ * /Mr. Jones' deal to sell his house fell through./ Contrast:
COME OFF.
[fall to] {v.} 1. To begin to work. * /The boys fell to and quickly
cut the grass./ Syn.: TURN TO. 2. To begin to fight. * /They took out
their swords and fell to./ 3. To begin to eat. * /The hungry boys fell
to before everyone sat down./ 4. Begin; start. * /The old friends met
and fell to talking about their school days./
[fall to pieces] {v. phr.} To disintegrate; collapse. * /After the
death of Alexander the Great, his empire started to fall to pieces./
[fall wide of the mark] See: WIDE OF THE MARK.
[false] See: PLAY ONE FALSE, SAIL UNDER FALSE COLORS.
[family] See: RUN IN THE BLOOD or RUN IN THE FAMILY, IN A FAMILY
WAY.
[family tree] {n.} Ancestry. * /My family tree can be traced back
to the sixteenth century./
[famine] See: FEAST OR A FAMINE.
[fancy doing something] - An expression of surprise. * /Fancy
meeting you here in such an unexpected place!/
[fancy pants] {n.}, {slang} A man or boy who wears clothes that are
too nice or acts like a woman or girl; sissy. * /The first time they
saw him in his new band uniform, they yelled "Hey, fancy pants, what
are you doing in your sister's slacks?"/
[fan] See: HIT THE FAN.
[fan out] {v. phr.} To spread in several directions. * /The main
road fans out at the edge of the forest in four different directions./
[fan the breeze] {v. phr.} 1. See: SHOOT THE BREEZE. 2. To swing
and miss the ball in baseball. * /The batter tried to hit a home run
but he fanned the breeze./
[far] See: AS FAR AS or SO FAR AS, SO FAR also THUS PAR, BY FAR,
FEW AND FAR BETWEEN, SO PAR, SO GOOD.
[far afield] {adj. phr.} Remote; far from the original starting
point. * /When we started to discuss theology. Jack was obviously
getting far afield from the subject at hand./
[far and away] {adv. phr.} Very much. * /The fish was far and away
the biggest ever caught on the lake./ Compare: BY FAR, HEAD AND
SHOULDERS(2).
[far and near] {n. phr.} Far places and near places; everywhere. *
/People came from far and near to hear him speak./
[far and wide] {adv. phr.} Everywhere, in all directions. * /The
wind blew the papers far and wide./ * /My old school friends are
scattered far and wide now./ * /The movie company looked far and wide
for a boy to act the hero in the new movie./ Compare: ALL OVER.
[farfetched] {adj.} Exaggerated; fantastic. * /Sally told us some
farfetched story about having been kidnapped by little green men in a
flying saucer./
[far cry] {n.} Something very different. * /His last statement was
a far cry from his first story./ * /The first automobile could run,
but it was a far cry from a modern car./
[far from it] {adv. phr.} Not even approximately; not really at
all. * /"Do you think she spent $100 on that dress?" Jane asked. "Far
from it," Sue replied. "It must have cost at least $300."/
[far gone] {adj. phr.} In a critical or extreme state. * /He was so
far gone by the time the doctor arrived, that nothing could be done to
save his life./
[farm] See: COLLECTIVE FARM.
[farm out] {v.} 1. To have another person do (something) for you;
send away to be done. * /Our teacher had too many test papers to read,
so she farmed out half of them to a friend./ 2. To send away to be
taken care of. * /While Mother was sick, the children were farmed out
to relatives./ 3. To send a player to a league where the quality of
play is lower. * /The player was farmed out to Rochester to gain
experience./
[far-out] {adj.} 1. Very far away; distant. * /Scientists are
planning rocket trips to the moon and far-out planets./ 2. {informal}
Very different from others; queer; odd, unusual. * /He enjoyed being
with beatniks and other far-out people./ * /Susan did not like some of
the paintings at the art show because they were too far-out for her./
[fashion] See: AFTER A FASHION, HIGH FASHION or HIGH STYLE.
[fast] See: HARD-AND-FAST, PLAY FAST AND LOOSE.
[fast and furious] {adj.} or {adv. phr.} Very fast; with much speed
and energy. * /He was mowing the grass at a fast and furious rate./ *
/When I last saw her she was driving fast and furious down the
street./ Compare: GREAT GUNS.
[fast buck] or [quick buck] {slang} Money earned quickly and
easily, and sometimes dishonestly. * /You can make a fast buck at the
golf course by fishing balls out of the water trap./ * /He isn't
interested in a career; he's just looking for a quick buck./
[fast talker] {n.}, {slang}, {informal} A con artist or a swindler,
one who is particularly apt to get away with illegitimate transactions
because of the clever way he talks. * /I wouldn't trust Uncle Joe if I
were you, - he is a fast talker./
[fast time] See: DAYLIGHT SAVING TIME.
[fasten on] {v. phr.} To attach; tie something to make it secure. *
/"Fasten on your life jackets when you get into the life boats," the
captain said./
[fat] See: CHEW THE FAT.
[fat chance] {n. phr.}, {slang} Little or no possibility; almost no
chance. * /A high school team would have a fat chance of beating a
strong college team./ * /Jane is pretty and popular; you will have a
fat chance of getting a date with her./ Compare: GHOST OF A.
[fat city] {n.}, {slang} A state of contentment due to wealth and
position. * /Bully for the Smiths; they have arrived in Fat City./
[fate] See: TEMPT FATE or TEMPT THE FATES.
[father] See: LIKE FATHER, LIKE SON.
[Father Christmas] {n.}, {British} The joyful spirit of Christmas;
Santa Claus. * /English children look forward to the visit of Father
Christmas./
[Father's Day] {n.} The third Sunday in June set aside especially
to honor fathers whether living or dead. * /The children gave nice
presents to their father on Father's Day./
[fat is in the fire] Something has happened that will cause trouble
or make a bad situation worse. * /He found out you took it? Well, the
fat's in the fire now./
[fat of the land] {n. phr.} The best and richest food, clothes,
everything. * /When I'm rich I'll retire and live off the fat of the
land./
[fault] See: AT FAULT, FIND FAULT, TO A FAULT.
[faultfinding] {n.} Recrimination; nagging; criticism. * /All of
this constant faultfinding will only to lead to trouble between you
and your wife./
[favor] See: CURRY FAVOR, IN FAVOR OF.
[favorite son] {n.} A man supported by his home state for
President. * /At a national convention, states often vote for their
favorite sons first; then they change and vote for another man./
[fear] See: FOR FEAR.
[fear and trembling] or [fear and trepidation] {n. phr.} Great
fear. * /He came in fear and trembling to tell his father he had a bad
report card./
[feast one's eyes on] {v. phr.} To look at and enjoy very much. *
/He feasted his eyes on the beautiful painting./
[feast or a famine] {n. phr.} Plenty or very little; big success or
bad failure. * /In this business it's either a feast or a famine./ *
/He is very careless with his money, it is always a feast or a famine
with him./
[feather] See: BIRDS OF A FEATHER FLOCK TOGETHER, TAR AND FEATHER,
FINE FEATHERS DO NOT MAKE FINE BIRDS, FUSS AND FEATHERS, MAKE THE
FEATHERS FLY, RUFFLE FEATHERS.
[feather in one's cap] {n. phr.} Something to be proud of; an
honor. * /It was a feather in his cap to win first prize./ (From the
medieval practice of placing a feather in the helmet of one who won
honors in battle.)
[feather one's nest] {v. phr.}, {informal} 1. To use for yourself
money and power, especially from a public office or job in which you
are trusted to help other people. * /The rich man told his lawyer to
use his money after he died to build a hospital for poor people, but
the lawyer feathered his own nest with the money instead./ * /The man
feathered his nest in politics by getting money from contractors who
built roads./ Syn.: LINE ONE'S POCKETS. 2. To make your home pleasant
and comfortable; furnish and decorate your house. * /Furniture stores
welcome young couples who want to feather their nests./
[fed up] ({informal}) also ({slang}) [fed to the gills] or [fed to
the teeth] {adj. phr.} Having had too much of something; at the end of
your patience; disgusted; bored; tired. * /People get fed up with
anyone who brags all the time./ * /I've had enough of his complaints.
I'm fed up./ * /He was fed to the teeth with television and sold his
set to a cousin./ * /John quit football because he was fed to the
gills with practice./ Compare: SICK AND TIRED.
[feed] See: BITE THE HAND THAT FEEDS ONE, CHICKEN FEED, OFF FEED or
OFF ONE'S FEED, SPOON FEED.
[feel] See: GET THE FEEL OF and HARD FEELING.
[feel a draft] {v. phr.}, {slang} To have the sensation that one is
not welcome in a place; that one has gotten a cold reception. * /Let's
go, Suzie, I feel a draft./
[feel for someone] {v. phr.}, {informal} To be able to sympathize
with someone's problems. * /I can really feel for you, John, for
losing your job./
[feel free to do] {v. phr.} To take the liberty to engage in an
activity. * /Please feel free to take off your jackets; this is an
informal party./
[feel in one's bones] or [know in one's bones] {v. phr.} To have an
idea or feeling but not know why. * /I feel in my hones that tomorrow
will be a sunny day./ * /I know in my bones that God will protect us./
[feel like] {v.}, {informal} To want to do or have. * /I don't feel
like running today./ * /I just don't feel like pancakes this morning./
[feel like a million] or [feel like a million dollars] {v. phr.},
{informal} To be in the best of health and spirits. * /I feel like a
million this morning./ * /He had a headache yesterday but feels like a
million dollars today./ Compare: LOOK LIKE A MILLION.
[feel like a new man] {v. phr.} To feel healthy, vigorous, and well
again after a major physical illness or emotional upheaval. * /Ted
felt like a new man after his successful heart bypass operation./
[feel like two cents] See: TWO CENTS.
[feel low] {v. phr.} To be depressed; be in low spirits. * /I don't
know what's the matter with Mary, but she says she has been feeling
very low all afternoon./
[feel no pain] {v. phr.}, {slang} To be drunk. * /After a few
drinks, the man felt no pain and began to act foolishly./
[feel one's oats] {v. phr.}, {slang} 1. To feel frisky or playful;
be eager and excited. * /The horses were feeling their oats./ * /When
they first got to camp, the boys were feeling their oats./ 2. To act
in a proud or important way. * /The new gardener was feeling his oats
and started to boss the other men./
[feel one's way] {v. phr.} To proceed cautiously by trial and
error; probe. * /I won't ask her to marry me directly; I will feel my
way first./
[feel] or [look small] {v. phr.} To have the impression that one is
insignificant, foolish, or humiliated. * /"I feel small next to
Hemingway," the young student of creative writing said./
[feel out] {v.} To talk or act carefully with someone and find what
he thinks or can do. * /The pupils felt out the principal about a
party after the game./ * /John felt out his father about letting him
have the car that evening./ * /At first the boxers felt each other
out./ Compare: SOUND OUT.
[feel out of place] {v. phr.} To experience the sensation of not
belonging in a certain place or company. * /Dave felt out of place
among all those chess players as he knows nothing about chess./
[feel the pinch] {v. phr.} To be short of money; experience
monetary difficulties. * /If we are going to have a recession,
everybody will feel the pinch./
[feel up] {v. phr.}, {vulgar}, {avoidable} To arouse sexually by
manual contact. * /You mean to tell me that you've been going out for
six months and he hasn't ever tried to feel you up?/ Contrast: COP A
FEEL.
[feel up to something] {v. phr.}, {informal} To feel adequately
knowledgeable, strong, or equipped to handle a given task. * /Do you
feel up to jogging a mile a day with me?/ Contrast: BE UP TO
SOMETHING.
[feet] See: FOOT.
[feet of clay] {n. phr.} A hidden fault or weakness in a person
which is discovered or shown. * /The famous general showed he had feet
of clay when he began to drink liquor./ * /The banker seemed to be
honest, but he had feet of clay and was arrested for stealing./
[feet on the ground] {n. phr.} An understanding of what can be
done; sensible ideas. Used with a possessive. * /John has his feet on
the ground; he knows he cannot learn everything at once./ * /Ted
dreams of sudden riches, but Henry keeps his feet on the ground and
expects to work for his money./ * /Mrs. Smith was a dreamer, but her
husband was a man with his feet on the ground./ Contrast: IN THE
CLOUDS.
[fell] See: AT ONE FELL SWOOP.
[fellow] See: HAIL-FELLOW-WELL-MET, REGULAR GUY or REGULAR FELLOW.
[fellow traveller] {n.} A sympathizer with a political movement who
does not officially belong to the political party in question. * /Many
Germans after World War II were innocently accused of being fellow
travellers of Nazism./ * /During the McCarthy era, many Americans were
accused of being Communist fellow travellers./
[fence] See: GRASS IS ALWAYS GREENER ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE
FENCE, MEND ONE'S FENCES, ON THE FENCE.
[fence in] or [hedge in] or [hem in] {v.} To keep (someone) from
doing what he or she would like to do. Usually used in the passive. *
/Mary felt fenced in because her father would not let her drive a car
or have dates with boys./ * /John didn't like his job because he had
to do the same kind of work all the time. He felt that he was hemmed
in./
[fence-sitter] {n.} A person unable to pick between two sides; a
person who does not want to choose. * /Daddy says he is a fence-sitter
because he doesn't know which man he wants for President./
[fence-sitting] {n.} or {adj.} Choosing neither side. * /You have
been fence-sitting for too long. It is time you made up your mind./
Contrast: MAKE UP ONE'S MIND, TAKE SIDES.
[fence with] or [spar with] {v.} To talk with (someone) as if you
were fighting like a swordsman or boxer; to give skillful answers or
arguments against (someone). * /The governor was an expert at fencing
with reporters at press conferences./
[ferret out] {literary} or [smell out] or [sniff out] {v.} To hunt
or drive from hiding; to bring out into the open; search for and find.
* /John ferreted out the answer to the question in the library./ *
/Jane smelled out the boys' secret hiding place in the woods./
[few] See: MAN OF FEW WORDS, NOT A FEW, QUITE A FEW.
[few and far between] {adj. phr.} Not many; few and scattered; not
often met or found; rare. - Used in the predicate. * /People who will
work as hard as Thomas A. Edison are few and far between./ * /Places
where you can get water are few and far between in the desert./ *
/Really exciting games are few and far between./
[fickle finger of fate] See: ACT OF GOD.
[fiddle] See: PLAY SECOND FIDDLE.
[fiddle around] See: FOOL AROUND(3).
[fiddler] See: PAY THE PIPER or PAY THE FIDDLER.
[fiddle with] {v. phr.} To carelessly play with something. * /If
Jimmy continues to fiddle with our computer, he is liable to ruin it./
[field] See: CENTER FIELD, LEFT FIELD, OUT IN LEFT FIELD, PLAY THE
FIELD, RIGHT FIELD.
[field goal] {n.} 1. A score in football made by kicking the ball
over the bar between the goal posts. * /The Giants were not able to
make a touchdown but they kicked two field goals./ Compare: EXTRA
POINT. 2. A score in basketball made by a successful shot through the
basket not made on a free throw. * /A field goal counts two points./
Compare: FOUL SHOT, FREE THROW.
[fifth] See: TAKE THE FIFTH.
[fifth column] {n. phr.} A group or organization within a country
that works to bring about the country's downfall, usually through acts
of espionage and sabotage. * /The Communist party in the United States
was considered by Senator McCarthy to be the Soviet Union's fifth
column./
[flfty-flfty(1)] {adv.}, {informal} Equally; evenly. * /The two
boys divided the marbles they won fifty-fifty./ * /When Dick and Sam
bought an old car, they divided the cost fifty-fifty./
[fifty-fifty(2)] {adj.}, {informal} 1. Divided or shared equally. *
/It will be a fifty-fifty arrangement; half the money for me and half
for you./ 2. Half for and half against; half good and half bad. *
/There is only a fifty-fifty chance that we will win the game./
Compare: HALF AND HALF.
[fight against time] See: RACING TO STAND STILL.
[fight fire with fire] {v. phr.}, {slightly formal}, {of Biblical
origin} To fight back in the same way one was attacked; make a defense
similar to the attack. * /The candidate was determined to fight fire
with fire in the debate./
[fight it out] See: SLUG IT OUT.
[fighting chance] {n. phr.} A chance that necessitates struggle and
courage; a slim chance. * /The doctor told the family that Jack had a
fighting chance to recover./ * /Our business lost a lot of money, but
we have a fighting chance to stage a comeback./
[fight off] {v. phr.} 1. To struggle against someone so as to free
oneself; push an attacker back. * /Suzy fought off her two attackers
in Central Park with a couple of karate chops./ 2. To strive to
overcome something negative. * /After twelve hours at the computer
terminal, Jane had to fight off her overwhelming desire to go to
sleep./
[fight shy of] {v. phr.} To avoid; escape from. * /Jack always
fights shy of anything that even remotely resembles serious work./
[fight tooth and nail] See: TOOTH AND NAIL.
[figure in] {v.} 1. {informal} To add to a total; remember to put
down in figures. * /We figured in the travel expenses but forgot the
cost of meals./ 2. To have a part in; be partly responsible for. *
/Joe figured in all our touchdowns./ * /Mary's good grades figured in
her choice as class president./
[figure on] {v.} 1. To expect and think about while making plans. *
/We did not figure on having so many people at the picnic./ * /He
figured on going to town the next day./ Syn.: PLAN ON. 2. To depend
on; be; sure about. * /You can figure on him to be on time./ Syn.:
COUNT ON.
[figure out] {v.} 1. To find an answer by thinking about (some
problem or difficulty); solve. * /Tom couldn't figure out the last
problem on the arithmetic test./ * /Sam couldn't figure out how to
print a program until the teacher showed him how./ * /Mary couldn't
figure out why her cake tasted so funny until she found salt mixed in
the sugar bag./ Compare: FIND OUT(1). 2. To learn how to explain;
understand. * /Laurence is an odd boy; I can't figure him out./
Compare: MAKE OUT(2).
[figure up] {v. phr.} To calculate; add up. * /If you can figure up
how many phone calls I've made from your home, I will pay you right
away./
[fill in] {v.} 1. To write words needed in blanks; put in; fill. *
/You should fill in all the blanks on an application for a job./ 2.
{informal} To tell what you should know. * /The new boy didn't know
the rules so Bob filled him in./ * /The teacher filled in Mary about
class work done while she was sick./ 3. To take another's place;
substitute. * /The teacher was sick and Miss Jones filled in for her./
[fill (in) the gap] {v. phr.} To supply a missing piece of
information; provide a clue during the course of solving a mystery. *
/Sherlock Holmes said, "These fingerprints are bound to fill the gap
in our investigation."/
[fill one's shoes] {v. phr.} To take the place of another and do as
well; to substitute satisfactorily for. * /When Jack got hurt, the
coach had nobody to fill his shoes./ * /Joe hopes to fill his father's
shoes./ See: IN ONE'S SHOES.
[fill out] {v.} 1. To put in what is missing; complete; finish;
{especially}, to complete (a printed application blank or other form)
by writing the missing facts in the blank spaces; to write down facts
which are asked for in (a report or application.) * /After Tom passed
his driving test he filled out an application for his driver's
license./ * /The policeman filled out a report of the accident./ 2. To
become heavier and fatter; gain weight. * /When Bill was nineteen he
began to fill out./ * /The girl was pale and thin after her sickness,
but in a few months she filled out./
[fill the bases] See: LOAD THE BASES.
[fill the bill] {v. phr.}, {informal} To be just what is needed; be
good enough for something; be just right. * /The boss was worried
about hiring a deaf boy, but after he tried Tom out for a few weeks,
he said that Tom filled the bill./ * /I thought I would need a special
tool, but this wrench fills the bill./
[fill up] or [fill it up] or [fill her up] {v. phr.} To fill
entirely. (Said by the driver of a car to a gas station attendant). *
/When the attendant asked Andrew how much gas he wanted in the tank,
Andrew replied, "Fill her up."/
[filthy lucre] {n.}, {informal} Money, especially when thought of
as bad or shameful. * /When the rich gambler tried to make Sarah marry
him, she said, "Keep your filthy lucre - I shall marry the man I
love."/ - Sometimes used in a joking way. * /"Come and let's get rid
of some filthy lucre."/
[filthy rich] {adj. phr.} Extremely rich but without cultural
refinement; nouveau riche. * /"The Murgatroyds are filthy rich," Ted
complained. "They are rolling in money but they never learned how to
behave properly at a dinner table."/
[finders keepers] or [finders keepers, losers weepers] {informal}
Those who find lost things can keep them. - Used usually by children
to claim the right to keep something they have found. * /I don't have
to give it back; it's finders keepers./ * /Finders keepers, losers
weepers! It's my knife now!/
[find fault] {v. phr.} To find something wrong; complain;
criticize. * /She tries to please him, but he always finds fault./ *
/They found fault with every box I made./ Compare: JUMP ON, PICK
AT(3).
[find it in one's heart] {v. phr.} To be able or willing because of
your nature. * /He could not find it in his heart to tell her about
her mother's death./ * /Can you find it in your heart to forgive me?/
* /He could never find it in his heart to be mean to a dog./
[find one's ---] {v. phr.} To become able to use (some power of the
body or mind.) * /In the program for the parents, John was nervous and
could not speak at first; then he found his tongue./ * /The young bird
had just found its wings./ * /The baby was just beginning to find his
feet./ * /The question surprised him, and it was a minute before he
found his tongue./
[find oneself] {v. phr.} To find out what one is fitted for and
succeed in that. * /Mary tried several lines of work, but at last
found herself as a teacher./ * /Sometimes young people move around a
long time from job to job before they find themselves./
[find] or [get one's bearings] {v. phr.} To know where one is or
where one is headed. * /"Without a compass," the sergeant warned the
enlisted men, "you will never find your bearings in the desert."/
[find out] {v.} 1. To learn or discover (something you did not know
before.) * /One morning the baby found out for the first time that she
could walk./ * /I don't know how this car works, but I'll soon find
out./ * /He watched the birds to find out where they go./ * /Mary was
angry when Jane found out her secret./ 2. To get facts; to get facts
about. * /He wrote to find out about a job in Alaska./ * /She found
out how much the house would cost./ 3. To discover (someone) doing
wrong; catch. * /Some children are bad when no one is watching them,
but they are usually found out./ * /The boy knew that if he cheated on
the test the teacher would find him out./
[find out the hard way] See: HARD WAY.
[fine feathers do not make fine birds] {literary} A person who
wears fine clothes may not be as good as he looks. - A proverb. *
/Mary is pretty and she wears pretty clothes, but she is very mean.
Fine feathers do not make fine birds./ Compare: HANDSOME IS AS
HANDSOME DOES.
[fine kettle of fish] See: KETTLE OF FISH.
[fine-tooth comb] {n. phr.} Great care; careful attention so as not
to miss anything. * /The police searched the scene of the crime with a
fine-tooth comb for clues./ * /My room is so clean you couldn't find
dirt if you went over it with a fine-tooth comb./ Compare: LEAVE NO
STONE UNTURNED.
[finger] See: BURN ONE'S FINGERS, CROSS ONE'S FINGERS or KEEP ONE'S
FINGERS CROSSED, LAY A FINGER ON, LIFT A FINGER, PUT ONE'S FINGER ON
also LAY ONE'S FINGER ON, SLIP THROUGH ONE'S FINGERS, SNAP ONE'S
FINGERS AT, STICKY FINGERS, TWIST AROUND ONE'S LITTLE FINGER, WORK
ONE'S FINGERS TO THE BONE.
[finger in the pie] {n. phr.}, {informal} Something to do with what
happens; part interest or responsibility. * /When the girls got up a
Christmas party, I felt sure Alice had a finger in the pie./ * /The
Jones Company was chosen to build the new hospital and we knew Mr.
Smith had a finger in the pie./ * /Jack is a boy with a finger in
every pie at school, from dramatics to football./ Compare: HAVE A HAND
IN, TOO MANY IRONS IN THE FIRE.
[fingertip] See: AT ONE'S FINGERTIPS.
[finish up] See: END UP(4).
[fire] See: BALL OF FIRE, BETWEEN THE DEVIL AND THE DEEP BLUE SEA
or BETWEEN TWO FIRES, BUILD A FIRE UNDER, BURNT CHILD DREADS THE FIRE,
CATCH FIRE, DRAW FIRE, FAT'S IN THE FIRE, FIGHT FIRE WITH FIRE, HANG
FIRE, HEAP COALS OF FIRE ON ONE'S HEAD, HOLD ONE'S FIRE or HOLD FIRE,
IRON IN THE FIRE, KEEP THE HOME FIRES BURNING, LINE OF FIRE, ON FIRE,
OPEN FIRE, OUT OF THE FRYING PAN INTO THE FIRE, PLAY WITH FIRE, PULL
ONE'S CHESTNUTS OUT OF THE FIRE, SET FIRE TO, SET THE WORLD ON FIRE,
TILL THE LAST GUN IS FIRED or UNTIL THE LAST GUN IS FIRED, UNDER FIRE.
[firebug] {n.} An arsonist; one who willfully sets fire to
property. * /The police caught the firebug just as he was about to set
another barn ablaze in the country./
[firing squad] {n.} A group of soldiers chosen to shoot a prisoner
to death or to fire shots over a grave as a tribute. * /A dictator
often sends his enemies before a firing squad./ * /The dead general
was honored by a firing squad./
[first] See: AT FIRST BLUSH, AT FIRST SIGHT, CAST THE FIRST STONE,
GET TO FIRST BASE or REACH FIRST BASE, IN THE FIRST PLACE, OF THE
FIRST WATER.
[firsthand] {adj.} Fresh; genuine; from the original source. *
/John says he got the information firsthand from the president
himself./
[first and foremost] {adv. phr.} As the most important thing;
first. * /First and foremost they needed food./ * /I want you to
remember to pay that bill first and foremost./ * /First and foremost,
we must keep America free./
[first and last] {adv. phr.} Most noticeably; all the time;
chiefly. * /He was first and last a school teacher./ * /Steven joined
the army because first and last he wanted to help his country./ Syn.:
ABOVE ALL.
[first base] {n. phr.} 1. The base that must be touched first by a
baseball player after batting. * /He got to first base on four balls./
2. See: GET TO FIRST BASE.
[first class] {n.} 1. The first rank; the highest class; the best
group. * /The pianist was quite good but he was not in the first
class./ 2. The most expensive or comfortable class of travel; the best
or one of the best groups in which to travel, especially by ship,
train, or airplane. * /Most people can't afford the first class when
they take a long journey by ship./ 3. The way of sending all mail that
includes letters and post cards, anything written by hand or
typewriter, and anything sealed so that it cannot be inspected, and
that is the most expensive class of mail but receives the best
treatment. * /The usual way to send a letter is by first class./
Compare: SECOND CLASS, THIRD CLASS.
[first-class(1)] {adj.} 1. Of the highest class or best kind;
excellent; first-rate. * /Jane did a first-class job of repairing the
coat./ * /It was a first-class TV program./ Compare: TOP-NOTCH. 2. Of
the best or most expensive class of travelling. * /Mr. Jones bought a
first-class plane ticket to Chicago./ 3. Belonging to the class of
mail for sending letters, post cards, and handwritten or typewritten
mail that is sealed. * /It is expensive to send a heavy letter by
first-class mail./
[first-class(2)] {adv.} With the best material; in the best or most
expensive way. * /When Mr. Van Smith goes anywhere he always travels
first-class./ * /"How did you send the package?" "First-class."/
[first come, first served] {truncated sent.}, {informal} If you
arrive first, you will be served first; people will be waited on in
the order they come; the person who comes first will have his turn
first. * /Get in line for your ice cream, boys. First come, first
served./ * /The rule in the restaurant is first come, first served./ *
/The team's owners announced that tickets for the World Series would
be sold on a first come, first served basis only./ * /There are only a
few seats left so it's first come, first served./ Compare: EARLY BIRD
CATCHES THE WORM.
[first cousin] {n.} The child of your aunt or uncle. * /Tom's only
first cousin was Ralph, the son of his Uncle John./
[first of all] {adv. phr.} Chiefly; primarily; as the first thing.
* /After we get to Chicago, we will, first of all, try to find a
reliable used car./
[first off] {adv. phr.}, {informal} Before anything else; first. *
/First off, I want you to mow the lawn./
[first-run] {adj. phr.} Shown for the first time; new. * /The local
theater showed only first-run movies./
[first stone] See: CAST THE FIRST STONE.
[first string(1)] {n.}, {informal} 1. The best group of players on
a team; first team; A team. * /Dick loved basketball and practiced
hard until he was put on the first string./ 2. The best group of
workers. * /Tom learned his trade so well that his boss soon called
him one of his first string./
[first-string] {adj.}, {informal} 1. On the starting team or A
team. * /He was the first-string quarterback./ 2. Of the best quality;
foremost. * /He was the least expensive of the city's first-string
lawyers./
[first thing off the bat] {adv. phr.} Immediately; at once. * /He
called home from Paris first thing off the bat as he stepped off the
plane./
[first things first] Other things must wait until the most
important and necessary things are done. * /Study your lessons before
you go out to play. First things first./
[fish] See: COLD FISH, KETTLE OF FISH, NEITHER FISH NOR FOWL, NOT
THE ONLY FISH IN THE SEA, OTHER FISH TO FRY.
[fish-and-chips] {n. phr.} Fried fish and french fried potatoes. *
/The family went to a drive-in restaurant and had fish-and-chips./
[fish for] {v.}, {informal} To try to get or to find out
(something), by hinting or by a roundabout way to try to lead someone
else to give or tell you what you want by hinting. * /Jerry was always
fishing for an invitation to Bob's house./ * /Near examination time,
some of the students fish for information./
[fish for a compliment] {v, phr.} To try to make someone pay a
compliment. * /When Jim showed me his new car, I could tell that he
was fishing for a compliment./
[fish fry] {n.} An outdoor party or picnic at which fish are fried
and eaten. * /The guests at the fish fry caught and cooked their own
fish./
[fish in muddy] or [troubled waters] {v. phr.} To take advantage of
a troubled or confusing situation; seek personal advantage. * /With
the police disorganized after the collapse of communism in Europe,
many criminals started to fish in troubled waters./
[fish or cut bait] {v. phr.}, {informal} 1. Decide what you want to
do and stop wasting time; either act now or give someone else a chance
or turn. * /Jack couldn't decide whether to go to college or get a
job, so his father told him to fish or cut bait./ * /"Buy the kind of
ice cream you want or give someone else in line a chance. Fish or cut
bait!"/ Compare: MAKE UP ONE'S MIND. 2. Either try hard and do your
best, or quit. * /Frank missed football practice so often that the
coach told him to fish or cut bait./
[fish out of water] {n. phr.} A person who is out of his proper
place in life; someone who does not fit in. * /Because Ed could not
swim, he felt like a fish out of water at the beach./ * /She was the
only girl at the party not in a formal dress and she felt like a fish
out of water./ Compare: OUT OF ONE'S ELEMENT, OUT OF PLACE.
[fish story] {n. phr.} An unlikely or improbable tale. * /Hunters
and fishermen often exaggerate their successes by telling fish
stories./
[fist] See: HARD-FISTED.
[fit] See: BY FITS AND STARTS, GIVE PITS, HAVE A FIT or HAVE FITS,
IF THE SHOE FITS, WEAR IT, SEE FIT also THINK FIT, SURVIVAL OF THE
FITTEST.
[fit as a fiddle] {adj. phr.} In very good health. * /The man was
almost 90 years old but fit as a fiddle./ * /Mary rested at home for a
few weeks after her operation; then she felt fit as a fiddle./
[fit for] {v. phr.} To be suited for; be prepared for. * /"What
kind of job is Ted fit for?" the social worker asked./
[fit in with] {v. phr.} To fall into agreement or accord with. *
/His plans to take a vacation in early July fit in perfectly with the
university schedule./
[fit like a glove] {v. phr.} To fit perfectly. * /Her new dress
fits her like a glove./
[fit out] or [fit up] {v.} To give things needed; furnish. * /The
soldiers were fitted out with guns and clothing./ * /The government
fitted out warships and got sailors for them./ * /The house was fitted
out very nicely./ * /He fitted his room up as a photographic
laboratory./
[fit the bill] See: FILL THE BILL.
[fit to a T] See: TO A T.
[fit to be tied(1)] {adj. phr.}, {informal} Very angry or upset. *
/She was fit to be tied when she saw the broken glass./
[fit to be tied(2)] {adv. phr.}, {substandard} Very hard. - Used
for emphasis. * /Uncle Willie was laughing fit to be tied at the
surprised look on Mother's face./
[five o'clock shadow] {n. phr.} A very short growth of beard on a
man's face who did shave in the morning but whose beard is so strong
that it is again visible in the afternoon. * /"You have a five o'clock
shadow, honey," Irene said, "and we're going to the opera. Why don't
you shave again quickly?"/
[fix] See: GET A FIX or GIVE SOMEONE A FIX, GET A FIX ON.
[fix someone's wagon] or [fix someone's little red wagon] {v.
phr.}, {informal} 1. (Said to a child as a threat) to administer a
spanking. * /Stop that right away or I'll fix your (little red)
wagon!/ 2. (Said of an adult) to thwart or frustrate another, to
engineer his failure. * /If he sues me for slander, I will counter-sue
him for malicious prosecution. That will fix his wagon!/
[fix someone up with] {v. phr.}, {informal} To help another get a
date with a woman or man by arranging a meeting for the two. * /Say
Joe, can you possibly fix me up with someone this weekend? I am so
terribly lonesome!/
[fix up] {v. phr.} 1. To repair. * /The school is having the old
gym fixed up./ 2. To arrange. * /I think I can fix it up with the
company so that John gets the transfer he desires. /3. To arrange a
date that might lead to a romance or even to marriage. * /Mary is a
great matchmaker; she fixed up Ron and Betty at her recent party./
[fizzle out] {v.}, {informal} 1. To stop burning; die out. * /The
fuse fizzled out before exploding the firecracker./ 2. To fail after a
good start; end in failure. * /The power mower worked fine for a while
but then it fizzled out./ * /The party fizzled out when everyone went
home early./
[flag down] {v.}, {informal} To stop by waving a signal flag or as
if waving a signal flag. * /The signalman flagged down the freight
train./ * /A policeman flagged down the car with his flashlight./
[flakeball] or [flake] {n.}, {slang}, {drug culture} A disjointed,
or "flaky" person, who is forgetful and incoherent, as if under the
influence of narcotics. * /Hermione is a regular flakeball./ Compare:
SPACED OUT.
[flame] See: ADD FUEL TO THE FLAME, GO UP IN FLAMES.
[flanker back] {n.} A football back who can play far to the outside
of his regular place. * /The coach is still looking for a speedy boy
to play flanker back./
[flare up] {v.} 1. To burn brightly for a short time especially
after having died down. * /The fire flared up again and then died./ 2.
To become suddenly angry. * /The mayor flared up at the reporter's
remark./ * /The mother flared up at her children./ 3. To begin again
suddenly, especially for a short time after a quiet time. * /Mr.
Gray's arthritis flared up sometimes./ * /Even after they had
conquered the country, revolts sometimes flared up./
[flare-up] {n.} The reoccurrence of an infection or an armed
conflict. * /He had a flare-up of his arthritis./ * /There was a bad
flare-up of hostilities in some countries./
[flash] See: IN A FLASH.
[flash card] {n.} A card with numbers or words on it that is used
in teaching, a class. * /The teacher used flash cards to drill the
class in addition./
[flash in the pan] {n. phr.}, {slang} A person or thing that starts
out well but does not continue. * /The new quarterback was a flash in
the pan./ * /Mary got 100 on the first test in arithmetic but it was
just a flash in the pan because she failed in arithmetic./
[flat] See: FALL FLAT, IN NO TIME or IN NOTHING FLAT, LEAVE FLAT.
[flat as a pancake] {adj. phr.} Very level; very flat; having no
mountains or hills. * /A great part of the American Midwest is as flat
as a pancake./
[flat broke] See: STONE-BROKE.
[flatfoot] {n.}, {slang}, {derogatory} A policeman. * /"What does
Joe do for a living? - He's a flatfoot."/
[flat-footed] {adj.}, {informal} 1. Straightforward; forthright;
direct; outright. * /The governor issued a flat-footed denial of the
accusation./ * /He came out flat-footed against the idea./ 2. Not
ready; not prepared; - usually used with "catch". * /The teacher's
question caught Tim flat-footed./ * /Unexpected company at lunch time
caught Mrs. Green flat-footed./
[flat-out] {adv. phr.}, {informal} 1. Without hiding anything;
plainly; openly. * /The student told his teacher flat-out that he was
not listening to her./ 2. At top speed; as fast as possible. * /He saw
two men running flat-out from the wild rhinoceros./
[flatter oneself] To be sure of your own talent or skill; highly
confident. * /I flatter myself that I am a better swimmer than he is./
[flea in one's ear] {n. phr.}, {informal} An idea or answer that is
not welcome; an annoying or surprisingly sharp reply or hint. * /I'll
put a flea in his ear if he bothers me once more./
[flea market] {n. phr.} A place where antiques, second-hand things,
and cheap articles are sold, and especially one in the open air. *
/The local antique dealers held a flea market and fair on the
high-school athletic field./ * /There are many outdoor flea markets in
Europe./
[flesh] See: IN PERSON also IN THE FLESH, NEITHER FISH NOR FOWL
also NEITHER FISH, FLESH, NOR FOWL, PRESS THE FLESH, THORN IN THE
FLESH.
[flesh and blood] {n.} 1. A close relative (as a father, daughter,
brother); close relatives. Used in the phrase "one's own flesh and
blood". * /Such an answer from her - and she's my own flesh and blood,
too!/ 2. The appearance of being real or alive. * /The author doesn't
give his characters any flesh and blood./ 3. The human body. * /Before
child labor laws, small children often worked 50 or 60 hours a week in
factories. It was more than flesh and blood could bear./
[flesh out] {v.}, {informal} 1. To add to; make fuller, bigger, or
longer. * /The author fleshed out his story by adding more about his
war experiences./ 2. also [flesh up] To become heavier, put on weight,
or flesh. * /He lost weight after his illness but is beginning to
flesh out again./ See: FILL OUT.
[flesh up] See: FLESH OUT(2).
[fling oneself at] See: THROW ONESELF AT.
[fling oneself at someone's head] See: THROW ONESELF AT SOMEONE'S
HEAD.
[flip-flop(1)] {v.}, {informal} To alternate the positions of;
exchange the places of; switch. * /The football coach had one play in
which he flip-flopped his left halfback and fullback./
[flip-flop(2)] {n.}, {informal} A complete change; a switch from
one thing to an entirely different one. * /John wanted to be a
carpenter like his father, but when he saw the print shop he did a
flip-flop and now he's learning printing./
[flip-flop(3)] {adj. phr.}, {informal} Involving or using a change
from one of two places, positions, or alternatives to the other. *
/The machine was controlled by a flip-flop switch./ * /The football
coach hoped to surprise his opponents by using a flip-flop offense./
[flip one's lid] also [flip one's wig] {slang} 1. To lose one's
temper. * /When that pushy salesman came back Mom really flipped her
lid./ Compare: BLOW A FUSE. 2. To lose your mind; become insane. *
/When he offered me three times the pay I was getting, I thought he
had flipped his lid./ 3. To become unreasonably enthusiastic. * /She
flipped her lid over a hat she saw in the store window./ * /He's
flipped his lid over that new actress./
[flip out] {v. phr.}, {slang}, {informal} To go insane, to go out
of one's mind. * /A is impossible to talk to Joe today - he must have
flipped out./
[flock] See: BIRDS OF A FEATHER FLOCK TOGETHER.
[floor] See: GROUND FLOOR, MOP THE FLOOR WITH, WALK THE FLOOR.
[floor one] {v. phr.} To overwhelm; astound; nonplus. * /John's
sudden announcement that he would retire floored all of us in the
office./
[floorwalker] {n.} A section manager in a department store. * /To
exchange this pair of shoes, you must first get the floorwalker's
approval./
[flop] See: FLIP-FLOP.
[flower child] {n.}, {slang}, {informal} 1. A young person who
believes in nonviolence and carries flowers around to symbolize his
peace-loving nature. * /Flower children are supposed to be nonviolent,
but they sure make a lot of noise when they demonstrate!/ 2. Any
person who cannot cope with reality. * /"Face facts, Suzie, stop being
such a flower child!"/
[flower power] {n.}, {slang} The supposed power of love and
nonviolence as intended to be used by members of the anti-culture to
change American society. * /The young people were marching for flower
power./
[fluff one's lines] See: BLOW ONE'S LINES.
[fluff stuff] {n.}, {slang}, {citizen's band radio jargon} Snow. *
/We can expect some fluff stuff this afternoon./
[flunk out] {v. phr.} To have to withdraw from school or college
because of too many failing grades. * /Fred flunked out of college
during his junior year./
[flush it] {v. phr.}, {slang} 1. To fail (something). * /I really
flushed it in my math course./ 2. {interj.}, {used imperatively}
Expression registering refusal to believe something considered stupid