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or false. * /"You expect me to buy that story? Flush it!"/
[fly] See: BIRD HAS FLOWN, GO FLY A KITE, MAKE THE FEATHERS FLY,
MAKE THE FUR FLY, ON THE FLY, POP FLY, SACRIFICE FLY.
[fly at one's throat] {v. phr.} To attack you suddenly with great
anger. * /When Tom called Dick a bad name, Dick flew at his throat./
[fly ball] {n.} A baseball hit high into the air. * /He hit an easy
fly ball to center field./
[fly blind] {v. phr.} 1. To fly an airplane by instruments alone. *
/In the heavy fog he had to fly blind./ 2. {informal} To do something
without understanding what you are doing. * /I'm glad the car runs
now; I was flying blind when I fixed it./ * /He's flying blind when he
talks about philosophy./
[fly-by-night(1)] {adj.} Set up to make a lot of money in a hurry,
then disappear so people can't find you to complain about poor work,
etc.; not trustworthy; not reliable. * /Mrs. Blank bought her vacuum
cleaner from a new company; when she tried to have it fixed, she found
it was a fly-by-night business./
[fly-by-night(2)] {n.}, {informal} 1. A company that sells many
cheap things for a big profit and then disappears. * /A dependable
company honors its guarantees, but a fly-by-night only wants your
money./ 2. A person who does not pay his bills, but sneaks away (as at
night.) * /Hotels are bothered by fly-by-nights./
[fly by the seat of one's pants] {v. phr.}, {slang} To fly an
airplane by feel and instinct rather than with the help of the
instruments. * /Many pilots in World War I had to fly by the seat of
their pants./
[flying] See: WITH FLYING COLORS.
[flying high] {adj.}, {slang} Very happy; joyful. * /Jack was
flying high after his team won the game./ Compare: IN THE CLOUDS, ON
TOP OP THE WORLD.
[flying start] See: GET OFF TO A FLYING START.
[flying tackle] {n.}, {informal} A tackle made by jumping through
the air at the person to be tackled. * /Most football coaches don't
want their players to make flying tackles./ * /The policeman stopped
the burglar with a flying tackle./
[flying wedge] {n.}, {informal} 1. An offensive formation in
football in which players link arms and line up to form a "V" with the
ball carrier in the middle. * /The flying wedge was so dangerous and
hurt so many players that rules have forbidden it for over 50 years./
2. A group (as of guards or policemen) who use a "V" formation to help
someone get through a crowd. * /Police had to form a flying wedge to
get the movie star through the crowd of autograph hunters./
[fly in the face of] or [fly in the teeth of] {v. phr.} To ignore;
go against; show disrespect or disregard for. * /You can't fly in the
face of good business rules and expect to he successful./ * /Floyd's
friends tried to help him, but he flew in the teeth of their advice
and soon became a drunkard./
[fly in the ointment] {n. phr.}, {informal} An unpleasant part of a
pleasant thing; something small that spoils your fun. * /We had a lot
of fun at the beach; the only fly in the ointment was George's cutting
his foot on a piece of glass./ * /Your new job sounds too good to be
true - interesting work, high pay, short hours. Isn't there any fly in
the ointment?/
[fly off the handle] {v. phr.}, {informal} To become very angry. *
/John flew off the handle whenever Mary made a mistake./ * /The
children's noise made the man next door fly off the handle./ Syn.:
LOSE ONE'S TEMPER.
[fly the coop] {v. phr.}, {slang} To leave suddenly and secretly;
run away. * /The robbers flew the coop before the police arrived./ *
/His partner flew the coop with all the money./
[flying visit] {n. phr.} A visit of very short duration. * /Tom
came to New York for only a flying visit. We had hardly eaten lunch
when he had to leave./
[flying saucer] See: U.F.O.
[fly into a rage] or [temper] {v. phr.} To become very angry. * /By
the time we mention the name of her ex-husband, she flies into a
rage./
[foam at the mouth] {v. phr.}, {slang} To be very angry, like a mad
dog. * /By the time Uncle Henry had the third flat tire he was really
foaming at the mouth./
[fob off] {v.}, {informal} 1. To get something false accepted as
good or real. * /The peddler fobbed off pieces of glass as diamonds./
Syn.: PALM OFF, PASS OFF. 2. To put aside; not really answer but get
rid of. * /Her little brother asked where she was going, but she
fobbed him off with ah excuse./
[fog] See: IN A FOG.
[foggy bottom] {n.}, {slang} An area in downtown Washington, D.C.
where many offices of the Department of State are located; hence
figuratively, the U.S. Department of State. * /The press secretary
gave us a lot of foggy bottom double-talk about the hostage crisis in
the Near East./
[fold up] {v.}, {informal} To collapse; fail. * /The team folded up
in the last part of the season./ * /The new restaurant folded up in
less than a year./ Compare: FALL APART.
[folk] See: WEE FOLK.
[follow] See: AS FOLLOWS.
[follower] See: CAMP FOLLOWER.
[follow in one's footsteps] also [follow in one's tracks] {v. phr.}
To follow someone's example; follow someone exactly, * /He followed in
his father's footsteps and became a doctor./ Compare: LIKE FATHER,
LIKE SON.
[follow one's heart] {v. phr.} To do what one wishes to do rather
than to follow the voice of reason. * /Instead of accepting a
lucrative job in his father's business, Jim followed his heart and
became a missionary in the jungle./
[follow one's nose] {v. phr.}, {informal} 1. To go straight ahead;
continue in the same direction. * /Just follow your nose and you'll
get there./ 2. To go any way you happen to think of. * /Oh, I don't
know just where I want to go. I'll just follow my nose and see what
happens./
[follow out] {v. phr.}, {informal} 1. To do fully; finish (what you
are told to do.) * /The boy followed out the instructions and made a
fine model plane./ Compare: FOLLOW THROUGH. 2. To keep working at
(something) until it is finished; give (something) your attention
until it comes to an end or conclusion. * /The student followed out
all the index references in the encyclopedia until he found what he
wanted to know./ Compare: FOLLOW UP.
[follow suit] {v. phr.} 1. To play a card of the same color and
kind that another player has put down. * /When diamonds were led, I
had to follow suit./ 2. To do as someone else has done; follow
someone's example. * /When the others went swimming, I followed suit./
[follow through] {v. phr.} 1. To finish a movement that you have
started; continue an action to its natural ending. * /A football
passer should follow through after he throws the ball./ 2. To finish
an action that you have started. * /Bob drew plans for a table for his
mother, but he did not follow through by making it./
[follow up] {v. phr.}, {informal} 1. To chase or follow closely and
without giving up. * /The Indians followed up the wounded buffalo
until it fell dead./ 2. Make (one action) more successful by doing
something more. * /After Mary sent a letter to apply for a job, she
followed it up by going to talk to the personnel manager./ * /The
doctor followed up Billy's operation with x-rays, and special
exercises to make his foot stronger./ Compare: FOLLOW OUT, FOLLOW
THROUGH(2). 3a. To hunt for (more news about something that has
already been in the newspapers, radio or TV news); find more about. *
/The day after news of the fire at Brown's store, the newspaper sent a
reporter to follow up Mr. Brown's future plans./ 3b. To print or
broadcast (more news about some happening that has been in the news
before). * /The fire story was printed Monday, and Tuesday's paper
followed it up by saying that Mr. Brown planned to build a bigger and
better store at the same place./
[follow-up] {n.} Additional work or research by means of which an
earlier undertaking's chances of success are increased. * /I hope
you'll be willing to do a bit of follow-up./
[fond of] Having a liking for; attracted to by strong liking. *
/Alan is fond of candy./ * /Uncle Bill was the children's favorite,
and he was fond of them too./
[food for thought] {n. phr.} Something to think about or worth
thinking about; something that makes you think. * /The teacher told
John that she wanted to talk to his father, and that gave John food
for thought./ * /There is much food for thought in this book./
[fool] See: CHILDREN AND FOOLS SPEAK THE TRUTH, MAKE A FOOL OF.
[fool and his money are soon parted] A foolish person soon wastes
his money. - A proverb, * /Jimmy spends all his pennies for candy. A
fool and his money are soon parted./
[fool around] or [mess around] or [play around] or [monkey around]
{v.}, {informal} 1. To spend time playing, fooling, or joking instead
of being serious or working; waste time. * /If you go to college, you
must work, not fool around./ * /The boys fooled around all afternoon
in the park./ Compare: CUT UP(2). To treat or handle carelessly. *
/Bob cut himself by fooling around with a sharp knife./ * /Suzie says
she wishes John would quit playing around with the girls and get
married./ 3. or [fiddle around] To work or do something in an
irregular or unplanned way; tinker. * /Jimmy likes to monkey around
with automobile engines./ * /Alice is fooling around with the piano in
her spare time./ Compare: FUCK AROUND.
[fool around] See: MESS AROUND.
[fool away] or [fritter away] {v.}, {informal} To waste foolishly.
* /Paul failed history because he fooled away his time instead of
studying./ * /The man won a lot of money, but he soon frittered it
away and was poor again./
[foolish] See: PENNY WISE AND POUND FOOLISH.
[foolproof] {adj.} So constructed that not even a fool can spoil
it; easy. * /This entrance examination is so easy that it is actually
foolproof./
[fool's paradise] See: LIVE IN A FOOL'S PARADISE.
[foot] See: AT ONE'S FEET, COLD FEET, DEAD ON ONE'S FEET, DRAG
ONE'S FEET, FROM HEAD TO FOOT, GET OFF ON THE WRONG FOOT, GET ONE'S
FEET WET, HAND AND FOOT, KEEP ONE'S FEET, KNOCK OFF ONE'S FEET, LAND
ON ONE'S FEET, LET GRASS GROW UNDER ONE'S FEET, ONE FOOT IN THE GRAVE,
ON FOOT, ON ONE'S FEET, PLAY FOOTSIE, PUT ONE'S BEST FOOT FORWARD, PUT
ONE'S FOOT DOWN, PUT ONE'S FOOT IN IT, SET FOOT, SHOE ON THE OTHER
FOOT, STAND ON ONE'S OWN FEET, SWEEP OFF ONE'S FEET, THINK ON ONE'S
FEET, THROW ONESELF AT SOMEONE'S FEET.
[footed] See: FLAT FOOTED.
[foot in the door] {n. phr.}, {informal} The first step toward
getting or doing something; a start toward success; opening. * /Don't
let Jane get her foot in the door by joining the club or soon she'll
want to be president./
[footstep] See: FOLLOW IN ONE'S FOOTSTEPS.
[foot the bill] {v. phr.} To cover the expenses of; pay for
something. * /The bride's father footed two-thirds of the bill for hix
daughter's wedding./ Compare: PICK UP THE TAB.
[footloose and fancy-free] {adj. phr.} Free and free to do what one
wants (said of unmarried men). * /Ron is a merry bachelor and seems to
enjoy greatly being footloose and fancy-free./
[for a fall] See: RIDING FOR A FALL.
[for all] 1. In spite of; even with, despite. - Used for contrast.
* /For all his city ways, he is a country boy at heart./ * /There may
be mistakes occasionally, but for all that, it is the best book on the
subject./ * /For all his money, he was very unhappy./ 2. also [for
aught] To the extent that. - Used like a negative with "care" and
"know". * /For all I care, you can throw it away./ * /For all he
knows, we might be in Boston./ Compare: AS FAR AS(2), ONCE AND FOR
ALL.
[for all one cares] {adv. phr.} In the opinion of one who is not
involved or who does not care what happens. * /For all Jane cares,
poor Tom might as well drop dead./
[for all one is worth] With all of your strength; as hard as you
can. * /Roger ran for all he was worth to catch the bus./
[for all one knows] {adv. phr.} According to the information one
has; probably. * /For all we know, Ron and Beth might have eloped and
been married in a French chateau./
[for all that] {adv. phr.} In spite of what has been said, alleged,
or rumored. * /Well, for all that, we think that she is still the most
deserving candidate for Congress./
[for all the world] {adv. phr.} 1. Under no circumstances. * /Betty
said she wouldn't marry Jake for all the world./ 2. Precisely;
exactly. * /It began for all the world like a successful baseball
season for the UIC Flames, when suddenly they lost to the Blue
Demons./
[for a loop] See: KNOCK FOR A LOOP or THROW FOR A LOOP.
[for a loss] See: THROW FOR A LOSS.
[for a ride] See: TAKE FOR A RIDE.
[for as much as] {conj.}, {formal} Because; since. * /For as much
as the senator is eighty years old, we feel he should not run for
reelection./ Syn.: INASMUCH AS.
[for a song] {adv. phr.}, {informal} At a low price; for a bargain
price; cheaply. * /He sold the invention for a song and its buyers
were the ones who got rich./ * /They bought the house for a song and
sold it a few years later at a good profit./
[for aught] See: FOR ALL(2).
[for bear] See: LOADED FOR BEAR.
[for better or worse] or [for better or for worse] {adv. phr.} 1.
With good or bad effect, depending on how one looks at the matter. *
/The historian did justice, for better or worse, to the careers of
several famous men./ 2. Under any eventuality; forever; always. *
/Alex and Masha decided to leave Moscow and come to Chicago, for
better or for worse./ 3. (Marriage vows) Forever, for as long as one
may live. * /With this ring I thee wed, for richer or poorer, in
sickness and in health, for better or worse, til death do us part./
[forbid] See: GOD FORBID.
[for broke] See: GO FOR BROKE.
[force] See: IN FORCE, JOIN FORCES.
[force one's hand] {v. phr.} To make you do something or tell what
you will do sooner than planned. * /Ben did not want to tell where he
was going, but his friend forced his hand./ * /Mr. Smith planned to
keep his land until prices went up, but he had so many doctor bills
that it forced his hand./
[force play] or [force-out] {n.} A play in baseball in which a
runner is out because he does not run to the next base before the
fielder with the ball touches the base. * /Bob was out at second base
when Joe hit into a force play./
[for certain] See: FOR SURE.
[for crying out loud] {informal} Used as an exclamation to show
that you feel surprised or cross. * /For crying out loud, look who's
here!/ * /For crying out loud, that's the third time you've done it
wrong./ Compare: FOR ONE'S SAKE.
[for days on end] {adv. phr.} For a long time; for many days. *
/The American tourists tried to get used to Scottish pronunciation for
days on end, but still couldn't understand what the Scots were
saying./
[for dear life] {adv. phr.} As though afraid of losing your life. *
/He was running for dear life toward town./ * /When the horse began to
run, she held on for dear life./
[fore] See: TO THE FORE.
[foremost] See: FIRST AND FOREMOST.
[forest] See: CAN'T SEE THE WOOD FOR THE TREES or CAN'T SEE THE
FOREST FOR THE TREES.
[forever and a day] {adv. phr.}, {informal} For a seemingly endless
time; forever; always. Used for emphasis. * /We waited forever and a
day to find out who won the contest./ * /They promised to remain
friends forever and a day./
[forever and ever] {adv. phr.} Forever; always. - Used for
emphasis, usually about spiritual things. * /God will live forever and
ever./
[for example] or [for instance] {adv. phr.} As an example; as
proof; to give an example or illustration. * /Not only rich men become
President. For example, Lincoln was born poor./ * /There are jobs more
dangerous than truck driving; for instance, training lions./ Compare:
FOR ONE THING.
[for fear] Because of fear. * /He left an hour early for fear of
missing his train./ * /She worried for fear that the child would be
hurt./
[for fear of] {adv. phr.} Because of being afraid of something; on
account of being scared. * /Dave refuses to go to Europe for fear of
an airplane crash and for fear of a shipwreck./
[for free] {adj. phr.}, {substandard} Without having to pay; free.
* /Hey you guys, look at this balloon! They're for free down at the
new store./
[for fun] {prep. phr.} As amusement, not seriously, as a joke. *
/Let's try to play Beethoven's Emperor Concerto together, you on one
piano, and I on another one./ Compare: IN FUN.
[forget] See: FORGIVE AND FORGET.
[forget oneself] {v. phr.} To do something one should have
remembered not to do; do something below one's usual conduct although
one knows better; let one's self-control slip. * /He forgot himself
only once at dinner - when he belched./ * /He knew he should hold his
temper, but because of the trouble he forgot himself and began to
shout./
[forgive and forget] {v.} To have no bad feelings about what
happened in the past. * /After the argument the boys decided to
forgive and forget./ Syn.: LET BYGONES BE BYGONES, LIVE AND LET LIVE.
[for good] also [for good and all] Permanently, forever, for
always. * /The lost money was gone for good./ * /He hoped that the
repairs would stop the leak for good./ * /When John graduated from
school, he decided that he was done with study for good and all./
Syn.: FOR KEEPS(2).
[for good measure] {adv. phr.} As something more added to what is
expected or needed; as an extra. * /He sold me the car at a cheap
price and included the radio for good measure./ * /She puts in the
spices the recipe calls for and then adds an extra pinch for good
measure./ Compare: IN THE BARGAIN, TO BOOT.
[for granted] See: TAKE FOR GRANTED.
[for Heaven's sake!] {adv. phr.} Please. * /"Help me, for Heaven's
sake!" the injured man cried./
[for hours on end] {adv. phr.} For many hours; for a very long
time. * /We have been trying to get this computer going for hours on
end, but we need serious professional help./
[for instance] See: FOR EXAMPLE.
[for it] See: RUN FOR IT.
[for keeps] {adv. phr.} 1. For the winner to keep. * /They played
marbles for keeps./ 2. {informal} For always; forever, * /He left town
for keeps./ Syn.: FOR GOOD. 3. Seriously, not just for fun. * /This is
not a joke, it's for keeps./ - Often used in the phrase "play for
keeps". * /The policeman knew that the robber was trying to shoot him.
He was playing for keeps./
[forked tongue] See: SPEAK WITH A FORKED TONGUE.
[fork over a lot of money] {v. phr.} To pay an excessive amount of
money often unwillingly. * /"According to my divorce decree," Alan
complained, "I have to fork over a lot of money to my ex-wife every
month."/
[fork over] or [fork out] also [fork up] {v.} To pay; pay out. *
/He had to fork over fifty dollars to have the car repaired./ Compare:
HAND OVER.
[for laughs] {adv. phr.} For pleasure; for fun; as a joke. * /The
college boys climbed up into the girls' dorms and stole some of their
dresses just for laughs, but they were punished all the same./
[for love or money] {adv. phr.} For anything; for any price. Used
in negative sentences. * /I wouldn't give him my dog for love or
money./ Compare: FOR ALL THE WORLD(1).
[form] See: RAN TRUE TO FORM.
[for no man] See: TIME AND TIDE WAIT FOR NO MAN.
[for one] As the first of several possible examples; as one
example. * /Manv people do not like certain foods. I for one do not
like cabbage./ - Also used with similar words instead of "one". *
/Several materials can be used to make the box: plywood, for one;
masonite, for another; sheet metal, for a third./
[for one's money] {prep. phr.} Regarding one's endorsement or
support; as far as one is concerned. * /For my money, the best
candidate for Congress is Ms. Smith./
[for one's part] also [on one's part] {adv. phr.} As far as you are
concerned; the way you feel or think. * /I don't know about you, but
for my part I don't want to go to that place./ Compare: AS FOR.
[for one thing] {adv. phr.} As one thing of several; as one in a
list of things. * /The teacher said, "You get a low mark, for one
thing, because you did not do your homework."/ * /The house was poorly
built; for one thing, the roof leaked./ Compare: FOR EXAMPLE, IN THE
FIRST PLACE.
[for real(1)] {adj. phr.}, {informal} Not practice or play;
earnest, real, serious. * /The war games were over now. This battle
was for real./
[for real(2)] {adv. phr.}, {substandard} Not for practice; really;
seriously. * /Let's do our work for real./
[for one's sake] {adv. phr.}, {informal} Used with different
possessive nouns to show surprise, crossness, or impatience. * /For
heaven's sake, where did you come from?/ * /For Pete's sake, look
who's here!/ * /Well, for pity's sake, I wish you'd told me sooner./ *
/Oh, for gosh sake, let me do it./
[for shame] {interj.} Shame on you; you should be ashamed of
yourself. - An exclamation no longer in common use, having been
largely replaced by "shame on you". * /"For shame, John, taking the
toy from your baby brother!"/
[for short] {adv. phr.} So as to make shorter; as an abbreviation
or nickname. * /The boy's name was Humperdink, or "Dink" for short./ *
/The National Broadcasting Company is called NBC for short./
[for sure] or [for certain] {adv. phr.} 1. Without doubt;
certainly; surely. * /He couldn't tell for sure from a distance
whether it was George or Tom./ * /He didn't know for certain which bus
to take./ * /I know for certain that he has a car./ 2. {slang}
Certain. * /"That car is smashed so badly it's no good any more."
"That's for sure!"/ Compare: SURE THING.
[fort] See: HOLD THE FORT.
[forth] See: AND SO FORTH, BACK AND FORTH, CALL FORTH, HOLD FORTH,
SET FORTH.
[for that matter] {adv. phr.} With regard to that; about that. * /I
don't know, and for that matter, I don't care./ * /Alice didn't come,
and for that matter, she didn't even telephone./ Compare: MATTER OP
FACT,
[for the asking] {adv. phr.} By asking; by asking for it; on
request. * /John said I could borrow his bike any time. It was mine
for the asking./ * /Teacher said her advice was free for the asking./
[for the best] {adj.} or {adv. phr.} good or best; not bad as
thought; lucky; well, happily. * /Maybe it's for the best that your
team lost; now you know how the other boys felt./ * /John's parents
thought it would be for the best if he stayed out of school for the
rest of the year./ Often used in the phrase "turn out for the best". *
/You feel unhappy now because you got sick and couldn't go with your
friends, but it will all turn out for the best./ Compare: TURN OUT(6).
Contrast: FOR THE WORSE.
[for the better] {adj.} or {adv. phr.} With a better result; for
something that is better. * /The doctor felt that moving Father to a
dry climate would be for the better./ * /The new large print in the
book is a change for the better./ Compare: TAKE A TURN. Contrast: FOR
THE WORSE.
[for the birds] {adj. phr.}, {slang} Not interesting; dull; silly;
foolish; stupid. * /I think history is for the birds./ * /I saw that
movie. It's for the birds./
[for the books] See: ONE FOR THE BOOKS.
[for the devil] or [heck] or [the hell of it] {adv. phr.} For no
specific reason; just for sport and fun. * /We poured salt into Uncle
Tom's coffee, just for the heck of it./ See: DEVIL OF IT.
[for the hills] See: HEAD FOR THE HILLS.
[for the life of one] {adv.}, {informal} No matter how hard you
try. - Used for emphasis with negative statements. * /I can't for the
life of me remember his name./
[for the moon] See: ASK FOR THE MOON or CRY FOR THE MOON.
[for the most part] {adv. phr.} In general; mostly; most of the
time; commonly; generally. * /European countries are, for the most
part, tired of war./ Syn.: BY AND LARGE, ON THE WHOLE.
[for the nonce] See: FOR THE TIME BEING.
[for the ride] See: ALONG FOR THE RIDE.
[for the sake of] or [for one's sake] {adv. phr.} On behalf of; for
the benefit of. * /For the sake of truth and freedom, Dr. Sakharov,
the Soviet dissident, was willing to be banished from Moscow./ * /"Do
it for my sake, please!" Tom begged./
[for the time being] also {literary} [for the nonce] {adv. phr.}
For now; for a while; temporarily. * /I haven't any note paper, but
this envelope will do for the time being./ * /She hasn't found an
apartment yet; she's staying with her aunt for the time being./
[for the world] See: NOT FOR THE WORLD.
[for the worse] {adj. phr.} or {adv. phr.} For something that is
worse or not as good, with a worse result. * /He bought a new car but
it turned out to be for the worse./ * /The sick man's condition
changed for the worse./ Compare: TAKE A TURN. Contrast: FOR THE
BETTER.
[for to] {prep. phr.}, {dialect} So that you can; to. * /Simple
Simon went a-fishing for to catch a whale./ Syn.: IN ORDER TO.
[forty winks] {n. phr.}, {informal} A short period of sleep; a nap.
* /When the truck driver felt sleepy, he stopped by the side of the
road to catch forty winks./ Compare: SHUT-EYE.
[forward] See: BACKWARD AND FORWARD, LOOK FORWARD TO, PUT ONE'S
BEST FOOT FORWARD.
[forward wall] {n.} The line of a football team. * /Princeton 's
line outplayed the Rutgers forward wall./
[for you] See: THAT'S --- FOR YOU.
[foul ball] {n.} A batted baseball that lands outside the foul
line. * /Mickey hit a long foul ball that landed on the roof./
[foul line] {n.} 1. Either of two lines separating fair from foul
ground in baseball. * /Willie hit the ball just inside the foul line
for a double./ 2. A line across the upper end of a bowling alley
across which a bowler must not step. * /John bowled a strike but it
didn't count because he stepped over the foul line./ 3. A line on the
floor in front of the basket in basketball, from which foul shots are
made. * /Tony scored eight points from the foul line./
[foul out] {v.} 1. To make an out in baseball by hitting a foul fly
ball that is caught. * /He fouled out to the catcher./ 2. To be forced
to leave a basketball game because of getting more than the limit
number of personal fouls. * /A professional basketball player is
allowed six personal fouls before fouling out./
[foul play] {n.} Treachery; a criminal act (such as murder). *
/After they discovered the dead body, the police suspected foul play./
* /"She must have met with foul play," the chief inspector said when
they couldn't find the 12-year-old girl who had disappeared./
[foul shot] {n.} A free throw given in basketball to a player who
has been fouled. * /Tony was given two foul shots when he was fouled
while trying to shoot./ Compare: FIELD GOAL 2, FREE THROW.
[foul up] {v.}, {informal} 1. To make dirty. * /The birds fouled up
his newly washed car./ 2. To tangle up. * /He tried to throw a lasso
but he got the rope all fouled up./ 3. To ruin or spoil by stupid
mistakes; botch. * /He fouled the whole play up by forgetting his
part./ 4. To make a mistake; to blunder. * /Blue suit and brown socks!
He had fouled up again./ 5. To go wrong. * /Why do some people foul up
and become criminals?/
[foul-up] {n.} (stress on "foul") 1. {informal} A confused
situation; confusion; mistake. * /The luncheon was handled with only
one or two foul-ups./ 2. {informal} A breakdown. * /There was a
foul-up in his car's steering mechanism./ 3. {slang} A person who
fouls up or mixes things. * /He had gotten a reputation as a foul-up./
[foundation garment] {n.} A close-fitting garment designed for
women to wear underneath their clothes to make them look slim; a piece
of woman's underwear. * /Jane wears a foundation garment under her
evening dress./
[four] See: HIT ON ALL FOUR, ON ALL FOURS.
[four bits] {n.}, {slang} Fifty cents. * /Tickets to the play are
four bits," said Bill./ Compare: TWO BITS.
[four corners] {n.} All parts of a place. * /People came from the
four corners of the world to see him./ * /He has been to the four
corners of the country./ Compare: ALL OVER.
[four-eyes] {n.}, {slang} A person who wears glasses. - A rude
expression, * /Hey, four-eyes, come over here./
[four-leaf clover] {n.} A small green plant with four leaves which
many people think means good luck because clover plants usually have
three leaves. * /John has a four-leaf clover in his pocket. He thinks
he will have good luck now./
[fourth class] {n.} A class of mail that is not sealed and weighs a
pound or more, that includes things that are bought and sold and sent
in the mail, and printed things that are not second or third class
mail. * /Bill sent away 98 cereal box tops and a dollar and got back a
sheriff's badge and gun in the mail by fourth class./
[fourth-class(1)] {adj.} Belonging to the fourth class of mail. *
/The package weighed a pound and a half, so it had to be sent by
fourth-class mail./
[fourth-class(2)] {adv.} By fourth-class mail. * /How did the
company mail the package? Fourth-class./
[fourth world] {n.}, {informal} The poor nations of the world, as
distinguished from the oil-rich nations of the third world. * /Sri
Lanka will never join OPEC, since it is a fourth world nation./
[fowl] See: NEITHER FISH NOR FOWL.
[fox and geese] {n. phr.} A tag game in which the player
representing the fox tries to catch one of the players representing
geese as they run around the outside of a circle.
[fraidy-cat] or [fraid-cat] or [scaredy-cat] or [scared cat] {n.},
{informal} A shy person; someone who is easily frightened. - Usually
used by or to children. * /Tom was a fraidy-cat and wouldn't go in the
water./
[frame of mind] {n. phr.} One's mental outlook; the state of one's
psychological condition, * /There is no use trying to talk to him
while he is in such a negative frame of mind./
[freak] {n.}, {slang} 1. A good, or well-liked person, the opposite
of a square, someone with long hair and who is likely (or known) to be
a marijuana smoker or a drug user. Also said of homosexuals. * /Is Joe
a square, establishment type? - Oh no, he's a regular freak./ 2. [---
freak] An enthusiast, a person who does or cultivates something in
excess. * /Ellen is a film-freak./
[freak-out(1)] {n.}, {slang} An act of losing control; a situation
that is bizarre or unusual. * /The party last night was a regular
freak-out./
[freak out(2)] {v. phr.}, {slang} To lose control over one's
conscious self due to the influence of hallucinogenic drugs. * /Joe
freaked out last night./
[free] See: FOR FREE, MAKE FREE, MAKE FREE WITH, OF ONE'S OWN
ACCORD or OF ONE'S OWN FREE WILL.
[free agent] {n.} A professional player who does not have a
contract with a team. * /The Giants signed two free agents who had
been released by the Cardinals./
[free and easy] {adj.} Not strict; relaxed or careless. * /The
teacher was free and easy with his students./ * /He had a free and
easy way of acting that attracted many friends./ * /They were free and
easy with their money and it was soon gone./
[free ball] {n.} A ball in football that is in play, that is not in
the possession of anyone, that is not a legally thrown forward pass,
and that belongs to the first team which can grab it. * /A Notre Dame
player fell on a free ball and recovered it for his team./
[free enterprise] {n. phr.} A system in which private business is
controlled by as few government rules as possible. * /The United
States is proud of its free enterprise./
[free hand] {n.} Great freedom. * /The teacher had a free hand in
her classroom./ * /Bob put paint on the fence with a free hand./
Compare: FREE REIN.
[freeload] {v.} To have oneself supported in terms of food and
housing at someone else's expense. * /When are you guys going to stop
freeloading and do some work?/
[free rein] {n.} Freedom to do what you want. * /The king had free
rein in his country./ * /Father is strict with the children, but
Mother gives them free rein./ Compare: FREE HAND.
[free throw] {n.} A shot at the basket in basketball without
interference from opponents. * /Mike scored the winning point on a
free throw./ Compare: FIELD GOAL(2), FOUL SHOT.
[free-for-all] {n.} 1. Unlimited, free access to something
everybody wants. * /The Smith's party was a lavish free-for-all;
everybody could eat and drink as much as they wanted./ 2. A barroom,
tavern, or street fight in which everybody participates. * /The
celebration after the soccer game victory turned into an
uncontrollable free-for-all./
[freeze] See: BLOOD RUNS COLD or BLOOD FREEZES.
[freeze one's blood] See: BLOOD RUNS COLD.
[freeze out] {v.}, {informal} To force out or keep from a share or
part in something by unfriendly or dishonest treatment. * /The other
boys froze John out of the club./
[freeze over] {v.} To become covered with ice. * /The children
wanted the lake to freeze over so they could ice-skate./
[French fried potato] or [French fry] {n.} A narrow strip of potato
fried in deep fat. - Usually used in the plural. * /Sue ordered a
hamburger and french fries./
[French leave] {n.} The act of slipping away from a place secretly
and without saying good-bye to anyone. * /"It's getting late," Rob
whispered to Janet. "Let's take French leave and get out of here."/
[fresh from] {adj.} Recently returned from; experienced in. * /Tom
was fresh from two years in Paris and was very condescending in
matters pertaining to cuisine and wines./
[friction tape] {n.} Black cloth tape with one sticky side used
around electric wires. * /The boy fixed his cracked baseball bat with
some friction tape./
[Friday] See: GIRL FRIDAY.
[friend] See: BOY FRIEND, FAIR-WEATHER FRIEND, GIRL FRIEND, LADY
FRIEND, MAKE FRIENDS.
[friends with] Friendly to; a friend of. * /Alice found several
girls to be friends with on the first day of school./ * /At first I
didn't like John, but now I am friends with him./
[frightened out of one's wits] See: OUT OF ONE'S WITS.
[frightened to death] See: TO DEATH.
[fritter away] See: FOOL AWAY.
[fro] See: TO AND FRO.
[frog] See: BIG FROG IN A SMALL POND, LITTLE FROG IN A BIG POND.
[from bad to worse] See: GO FROM BAD TO WORSE.
[from grace] See: FALL FROM GRACE.
[from hand to hand] {adv. phr.} From one person to another and
another. * /The box of candy was passed from hand to hand./ * /Jane
brought her engagement ring, and it passed from hand to hand until all
the girls had admired it./
[from hand to mouth] See: LIVE FROM HAND TO MOUTH.
[from little acorns] See: GREAT OAKS FROM LITTLE ACORNS GROW.
[from Missouri] {adj. phr.}, {slang} Doubtful; suspicious. * /Don't
try to fool me. I'm from Missouri./
[from mouth to mouth] {adv. phr.} See: BY WORD OF MOUTH.
[from pillar to post] {adv. phr.} From one place to another many
times. * /Sarah's father changed jobs several times a year, and the
family was moved from pillar to post./
[from rags to riches] {adv. phr.} Suddenly making a fortune;
becoming rich overnight. * /The Smiths went from rags to riches when
they unexpectedly won the lottery./
[from scratch] {adv. phr.}, {informal} With no help from anything
done before; from the beginning; from nothing. * /Dick built a radio
from scratch./ * /In sewing class, Mary already knew how to sew a
little, but Jane had to start from scratch./ Compare: FROM THE GROUND
UP.
[from the bottom of one's heart] or [with all one's heart] {adv.
phr.} With great feeling; sincerely. * /A mother loves a baby from the
bottom of her heart./ * /John thanked his rescuer from the bottom of
his heart./ * /The people welcomed the returning soldiers from the
bottom of their hearts./
[from the door] See: KEEP THE WOLF FROM THE DOOR.
[from the ground up] {adv. phr.} From the beginning; entirely;
completely. * /After the fire they had to rebuild their cabin from the
ground up./ * /Sam knows about baseball from the ground up./ * /The
new cars have been changed from the ground up./
[from the heart] {adv.} Sincerely; honestly. * /John always speaks
from the heart./
[from the word "go"] {adv. phr.} From start to finish; completely.
* /He may look French but he is a New Yorker from the word "go."/
[from time to time] {adv. phr.} Not often; not regularly;
sometimes; occasionally; at one time and then again at another time. *
/Even though the Smiths have moved, we still see them from time to
time./ * /Mother tries new recipes from time to time, but the children
never like them./ Syn.: NOW AND THEN, AT TIMES, ONCE IN A WHILE.
Compare: BY FITS AND STARTS, OFF AND ON.
[from --- to ---] 1. Used with a repeated word to show that
something keeps on. Without ending. * /The world grows wiser from age
to age./ * /He goes from day to day without changing his necktie./ -
Also used in a short form like an adjective. * /The superintendent
spends more time on plans for the future, and the principal handles
the day-to-day problems of the school./ 2. Used with a repeated word
to show that something happens again and again. * /She sells face
cream from door to door./ * /The artist goes from place to place
painting pictures./ - Also used in a short form like an adjective. *
/Mr. Roberts began as a door-to-door salesman, and now is president of
the company./ 3. Used with words showing opposite or extreme limits,
often to emphasize that something is very large or complete. * /The
eagle's wings measured six feet from tip to tip./ * /Sarah read the
book from cover to cover./ * /Mrs. Miller's dinner included everything
from soup to nuts./ * /That book is a bestseller from Maine to
California./ * /The captain looked the boy over from head to foot./ *
/The dog sniffed the yard from end to end in search of a bone./ *
/This new car has been redesigned from top to bottom./ * /That
bookstore has books on everything from archery to zoology./ * /The
television show was broadcast from coast to coast./ * /He knows
mathematics from A to Z./ - Sometimes used in a short form like an
adjective. * /The airplane made a non-stop coast-to-coast flight./
[from under] See: OUT FROM UNDER, PULL THE RUG OUT FROM UNDER.
[from way back] {adv. phr.} From a previous time; from a long time
ago. * /They have known one another from way back when they went to
the same elementary school./
[front] See: IN FRONT OF.
[front and center] {adv.}, {slang} Used as a command to a person to
go to someone who wants him. * /Front and center, Smith. The boss
wants to see you./
[front court] {n.} The half of a basketball court that is a
basketball team's offensive zone. * /The guard brought the ball up to
the front court./
[front office] {n.}, {informal} The group of persons who manage a
business; the officers. * /The front office decides how much the
workers are paid./
[frown upon] {v. phr.} To look with disfavor upon somebody or
something. * /Everybody in her family frowns upon her attachment to
him./
[fruitcake] See: NUTTY AS A FRUITCAKE.
[fry] See: OTHER FISH TO FRY, OUT OF THE FRYING PAN INTO THE FIRE,
SMALL FRY.
[fuck around] {v. phr.}, {vulgar}, {avoidable} 1. To be
promiscuous. * /John fucks around with the secretaries./ 2. To play at
something without purpose, to mess around. * /He doesn't accomplish
anything, because he fucks around so much./
[fuck off] {v. phr.}, {vulgar}, {avoidable} 1. Go away! * /Can't
you see you're bothering me? Fuck off!/ 2. To be lazy. * /John said "I
don't feel like working, so I'll fuck off today."/ Compare: BEAT IT,
GOOF OFF.
[fuck up] {v. phr.}, {vulgar}, {avoidable} To make a mess of
something or oneself. * /Because he was totally unprepared, he fucked
up his exam./ * /He is so fucked up he doesn't know whether he is
coming or going./
[fuck-up] {n.}, {vulgar}, {avoidable} A mess; a badly botched
situation. * /What a fuck-up the dissolution of the USSR created!/
[fuddy-duddy] {n.} A person whose ideas and habits are
old-fashioned. * /His students think Professor Jones is an old
fuddy-duddy./
[fuel] See: ADD FUEL TO THE FLAME.
[full] See: HAVE ONE'S HANDS FULL, IN FULL SWING, TO THE FULL.
[full blast] {adv.} At full capacity. * /With all the research
money at their disposal, the new computer firm was going ahead full
blast./
[full-bodied] {adj.} Mature; of maximum quality. * /The wines from
that region in California have a rich, full-bodied flavor./
[full-fledged] {adj.} Having everything that is needed to be
something; complete. * /A girl needs three years of training to be a
full-fledged nurse./ * /The book was a full-fledged study of American
history./
[full of beans] {adj. phr.}, {slang} 1. Full of pep; feeling good;
in high spirits. * /The football team was full of beans after winning
the tournament./ * /The children were full of beans as they got ready
for a picnic./ 2. also [full of prunes] Being foolish and talking
nonsense. * /You are full of prunes; that man's not 120 years old./
[full of it] See: FULL OF THE OLD NICK.
[full of oneself] {adj. phr.}, {informal} Interested only in
yourself. * /Joe would be a nice boy if he would stop being so full of
himself./ Compare: BIG HEAD.
[full of prunes] See: FULL OF BEANS(2).
[full of the moon] {n. phr.}, {literary} The moon when it is seen
as a full circle; the time of a full moon. * /The robbers waited for a
dark night when the full of the moon was past./ Contrast: DARK OF THE
MOON.
[full of the Old Nick] or [full of the devil] or [full of it] {adj.
phr.}, {informal} Always making trouble; naughty; bad. * /That boy is
full of the Old Nick./
[full tilt] {adv.} At full speed; at high speed. * /He ran full
tilt into the door and broke his arm./
[fun] See: MAKE FUN OF.
[fun and games] {n.}, {slang}, {informal} 1. A party or other
entertaining event. 2. Something trivially easy. 3. Petting, or sexual
intercourse. 4. (Ironically) An extraordinary difficult task. * /How
was your math exam? (With a dismayed expression): - Yeah, it was all
fun and games, man./
[fun house] {n.} A place where people see many funny things and
have tricks played on them to make them laugh or have a good time. *
/The boys and girls had a good time looking at themselves in mirrors
in the fun house./
[funny bone] {n.} 1. The place at the back of the elbow that hurts
like electricity when accidentally hit. * /He hit his funny bone on
the arm of the chair./ 2. or {informal} [crazy bone] Sense of humor;
understanding jokes. * /Her way of telling the story tickled his funny
bone./
[fur] See: MAKE THE FUR FLY.
[furious] See: FAST AND FURIOUS.
[fuse] See: BLOW A FUSE.
[fuss] See: KICK UP A FUSS.
[fuss and feathers] {n.}, {informal} Unnecessary bother and
excitement. * /She is full of fuss and feathers this morning./
[gab] See: GIFT OF GAB or GIFT OF THE GAB.
[gaff] See: STAND THE GAFF.
[gain ground] {v. phr.} 1. To go forward; move ahead. * /The
soldiers fought hard and began to gain ground./ 2. To become stronger;
make progress; improve. * /The sick man gained ground after being near
death./ * /Under Lincoln, the Republican Party gained ground./
Contrast: LOSE GROUND.
[gallery] See: PLAY TO THE GALLERY.
[gallon] See: TEN-GALLON HAT.
[gallows' humor] {n. phr.} Bitter joke(s) that make fun of a very
serious matter, e.g. death, imprisonment, etc. * /When the criminal
was led to the electric chair on Monday morning, he said, "Nice way to
start the week, eh?"/
[game] See: AHEAD OF THE GAME, LOVE GAME, NAME OF THE GAME, PLAY
THE GAME, AT --- STAGE OF THE GAME.
[game at which two can play] {n. phr.} A plan, trick, or way of
acting that both sides may use. * /Rough football is a game two can
play./ * /Politics is a game at which two can play./
[game is not worth the candle] {literary} What is being done is not
worth the trouble or cost; the gain is not worth the effort. * /I
don't want to walk so far on such a hot day. The game is not worth the
candle./
[game is up] or {slang} [jig is up] The secret or plan won't work;
we are caught or discovered. * /The game is up; the teacher knows who
took her keys./ * /The jig's up; the principal knows the boys have
been smoking in the basement./ Compare: FAT IS IN THE FIRE.
[gang] See: ROAD GANG, SECTION GANG.
[gang up on] or [gang up against] {v. phr.}, {informal} To jointly
attack someone, either physically or verbally; take sides in a group
against an individual. * /The class bully was stronger than all the
[fly] See: BIRD HAS FLOWN, GO FLY A KITE, MAKE THE FEATHERS FLY,
MAKE THE FUR FLY, ON THE FLY, POP FLY, SACRIFICE FLY.
[fly at one's throat] {v. phr.} To attack you suddenly with great
anger. * /When Tom called Dick a bad name, Dick flew at his throat./
[fly ball] {n.} A baseball hit high into the air. * /He hit an easy
fly ball to center field./
[fly blind] {v. phr.} 1. To fly an airplane by instruments alone. *
/In the heavy fog he had to fly blind./ 2. {informal} To do something
without understanding what you are doing. * /I'm glad the car runs
now; I was flying blind when I fixed it./ * /He's flying blind when he
talks about philosophy./
[fly-by-night(1)] {adj.} Set up to make a lot of money in a hurry,
then disappear so people can't find you to complain about poor work,
etc.; not trustworthy; not reliable. * /Mrs. Blank bought her vacuum
cleaner from a new company; when she tried to have it fixed, she found
it was a fly-by-night business./
[fly-by-night(2)] {n.}, {informal} 1. A company that sells many
cheap things for a big profit and then disappears. * /A dependable
company honors its guarantees, but a fly-by-night only wants your
money./ 2. A person who does not pay his bills, but sneaks away (as at
night.) * /Hotels are bothered by fly-by-nights./
[fly by the seat of one's pants] {v. phr.}, {slang} To fly an
airplane by feel and instinct rather than with the help of the
instruments. * /Many pilots in World War I had to fly by the seat of
their pants./
[flying] See: WITH FLYING COLORS.
[flying high] {adj.}, {slang} Very happy; joyful. * /Jack was
flying high after his team won the game./ Compare: IN THE CLOUDS, ON
TOP OP THE WORLD.
[flying start] See: GET OFF TO A FLYING START.
[flying tackle] {n.}, {informal} A tackle made by jumping through
the air at the person to be tackled. * /Most football coaches don't
want their players to make flying tackles./ * /The policeman stopped
the burglar with a flying tackle./
[flying wedge] {n.}, {informal} 1. An offensive formation in
football in which players link arms and line up to form a "V" with the
ball carrier in the middle. * /The flying wedge was so dangerous and
hurt so many players that rules have forbidden it for over 50 years./
2. A group (as of guards or policemen) who use a "V" formation to help
someone get through a crowd. * /Police had to form a flying wedge to
get the movie star through the crowd of autograph hunters./
[fly in the face of] or [fly in the teeth of] {v. phr.} To ignore;
go against; show disrespect or disregard for. * /You can't fly in the
face of good business rules and expect to he successful./ * /Floyd's
friends tried to help him, but he flew in the teeth of their advice
and soon became a drunkard./
[fly in the ointment] {n. phr.}, {informal} An unpleasant part of a
pleasant thing; something small that spoils your fun. * /We had a lot
of fun at the beach; the only fly in the ointment was George's cutting
his foot on a piece of glass./ * /Your new job sounds too good to be
true - interesting work, high pay, short hours. Isn't there any fly in
the ointment?/
[fly off the handle] {v. phr.}, {informal} To become very angry. *
/John flew off the handle whenever Mary made a mistake./ * /The
children's noise made the man next door fly off the handle./ Syn.:
LOSE ONE'S TEMPER.
[fly the coop] {v. phr.}, {slang} To leave suddenly and secretly;
run away. * /The robbers flew the coop before the police arrived./ *
/His partner flew the coop with all the money./
[flying visit] {n. phr.} A visit of very short duration. * /Tom
came to New York for only a flying visit. We had hardly eaten lunch
when he had to leave./
[flying saucer] See: U.F.O.
[fly into a rage] or [temper] {v. phr.} To become very angry. * /By
the time we mention the name of her ex-husband, she flies into a
rage./
[foam at the mouth] {v. phr.}, {slang} To be very angry, like a mad
dog. * /By the time Uncle Henry had the third flat tire he was really
foaming at the mouth./
[fob off] {v.}, {informal} 1. To get something false accepted as
good or real. * /The peddler fobbed off pieces of glass as diamonds./
Syn.: PALM OFF, PASS OFF. 2. To put aside; not really answer but get
rid of. * /Her little brother asked where she was going, but she
fobbed him off with ah excuse./
[fog] See: IN A FOG.
[foggy bottom] {n.}, {slang} An area in downtown Washington, D.C.
where many offices of the Department of State are located; hence
figuratively, the U.S. Department of State. * /The press secretary
gave us a lot of foggy bottom double-talk about the hostage crisis in
the Near East./
[fold up] {v.}, {informal} To collapse; fail. * /The team folded up
in the last part of the season./ * /The new restaurant folded up in
less than a year./ Compare: FALL APART.
[folk] See: WEE FOLK.
[follow] See: AS FOLLOWS.
[follower] See: CAMP FOLLOWER.
[follow in one's footsteps] also [follow in one's tracks] {v. phr.}
To follow someone's example; follow someone exactly, * /He followed in
his father's footsteps and became a doctor./ Compare: LIKE FATHER,
LIKE SON.
[follow one's heart] {v. phr.} To do what one wishes to do rather
than to follow the voice of reason. * /Instead of accepting a
lucrative job in his father's business, Jim followed his heart and
became a missionary in the jungle./
[follow one's nose] {v. phr.}, {informal} 1. To go straight ahead;
continue in the same direction. * /Just follow your nose and you'll
get there./ 2. To go any way you happen to think of. * /Oh, I don't
know just where I want to go. I'll just follow my nose and see what
happens./
[follow out] {v. phr.}, {informal} 1. To do fully; finish (what you
are told to do.) * /The boy followed out the instructions and made a
fine model plane./ Compare: FOLLOW THROUGH. 2. To keep working at
(something) until it is finished; give (something) your attention
until it comes to an end or conclusion. * /The student followed out
all the index references in the encyclopedia until he found what he
wanted to know./ Compare: FOLLOW UP.
[follow suit] {v. phr.} 1. To play a card of the same color and
kind that another player has put down. * /When diamonds were led, I
had to follow suit./ 2. To do as someone else has done; follow
someone's example. * /When the others went swimming, I followed suit./
[follow through] {v. phr.} 1. To finish a movement that you have
started; continue an action to its natural ending. * /A football
passer should follow through after he throws the ball./ 2. To finish
an action that you have started. * /Bob drew plans for a table for his
mother, but he did not follow through by making it./
[follow up] {v. phr.}, {informal} 1. To chase or follow closely and
without giving up. * /The Indians followed up the wounded buffalo
until it fell dead./ 2. Make (one action) more successful by doing
something more. * /After Mary sent a letter to apply for a job, she
followed it up by going to talk to the personnel manager./ * /The
doctor followed up Billy's operation with x-rays, and special
exercises to make his foot stronger./ Compare: FOLLOW OUT, FOLLOW
THROUGH(2). 3a. To hunt for (more news about something that has
already been in the newspapers, radio or TV news); find more about. *
/The day after news of the fire at Brown's store, the newspaper sent a
reporter to follow up Mr. Brown's future plans./ 3b. To print or
broadcast (more news about some happening that has been in the news
before). * /The fire story was printed Monday, and Tuesday's paper
followed it up by saying that Mr. Brown planned to build a bigger and
better store at the same place./
[follow-up] {n.} Additional work or research by means of which an
earlier undertaking's chances of success are increased. * /I hope
you'll be willing to do a bit of follow-up./
[fond of] Having a liking for; attracted to by strong liking. *
/Alan is fond of candy./ * /Uncle Bill was the children's favorite,
and he was fond of them too./
[food for thought] {n. phr.} Something to think about or worth
thinking about; something that makes you think. * /The teacher told
John that she wanted to talk to his father, and that gave John food
for thought./ * /There is much food for thought in this book./
[fool] See: CHILDREN AND FOOLS SPEAK THE TRUTH, MAKE A FOOL OF.
[fool and his money are soon parted] A foolish person soon wastes
his money. - A proverb, * /Jimmy spends all his pennies for candy. A
fool and his money are soon parted./
[fool around] or [mess around] or [play around] or [monkey around]
{v.}, {informal} 1. To spend time playing, fooling, or joking instead
of being serious or working; waste time. * /If you go to college, you
must work, not fool around./ * /The boys fooled around all afternoon
in the park./ Compare: CUT UP(2). To treat or handle carelessly. *
/Bob cut himself by fooling around with a sharp knife./ * /Suzie says
she wishes John would quit playing around with the girls and get
married./ 3. or [fiddle around] To work or do something in an
irregular or unplanned way; tinker. * /Jimmy likes to monkey around
with automobile engines./ * /Alice is fooling around with the piano in
her spare time./ Compare: FUCK AROUND.
[fool around] See: MESS AROUND.
[fool away] or [fritter away] {v.}, {informal} To waste foolishly.
* /Paul failed history because he fooled away his time instead of
studying./ * /The man won a lot of money, but he soon frittered it
away and was poor again./
[foolish] See: PENNY WISE AND POUND FOOLISH.
[foolproof] {adj.} So constructed that not even a fool can spoil
it; easy. * /This entrance examination is so easy that it is actually
foolproof./
[fool's paradise] See: LIVE IN A FOOL'S PARADISE.
[foot] See: AT ONE'S FEET, COLD FEET, DEAD ON ONE'S FEET, DRAG
ONE'S FEET, FROM HEAD TO FOOT, GET OFF ON THE WRONG FOOT, GET ONE'S
FEET WET, HAND AND FOOT, KEEP ONE'S FEET, KNOCK OFF ONE'S FEET, LAND
ON ONE'S FEET, LET GRASS GROW UNDER ONE'S FEET, ONE FOOT IN THE GRAVE,
ON FOOT, ON ONE'S FEET, PLAY FOOTSIE, PUT ONE'S BEST FOOT FORWARD, PUT
ONE'S FOOT DOWN, PUT ONE'S FOOT IN IT, SET FOOT, SHOE ON THE OTHER
FOOT, STAND ON ONE'S OWN FEET, SWEEP OFF ONE'S FEET, THINK ON ONE'S
FEET, THROW ONESELF AT SOMEONE'S FEET.
[footed] See: FLAT FOOTED.
[foot in the door] {n. phr.}, {informal} The first step toward
getting or doing something; a start toward success; opening. * /Don't
let Jane get her foot in the door by joining the club or soon she'll
want to be president./
[footstep] See: FOLLOW IN ONE'S FOOTSTEPS.
[foot the bill] {v. phr.} To cover the expenses of; pay for
something. * /The bride's father footed two-thirds of the bill for hix
daughter's wedding./ Compare: PICK UP THE TAB.
[footloose and fancy-free] {adj. phr.} Free and free to do what one
wants (said of unmarried men). * /Ron is a merry bachelor and seems to
enjoy greatly being footloose and fancy-free./
[for a fall] See: RIDING FOR A FALL.
[for all] 1. In spite of; even with, despite. - Used for contrast.
* /For all his city ways, he is a country boy at heart./ * /There may
be mistakes occasionally, but for all that, it is the best book on the
subject./ * /For all his money, he was very unhappy./ 2. also [for
aught] To the extent that. - Used like a negative with "care" and
"know". * /For all I care, you can throw it away./ * /For all he
knows, we might be in Boston./ Compare: AS FAR AS(2), ONCE AND FOR
ALL.
[for all one cares] {adv. phr.} In the opinion of one who is not
involved or who does not care what happens. * /For all Jane cares,
poor Tom might as well drop dead./
[for all one is worth] With all of your strength; as hard as you
can. * /Roger ran for all he was worth to catch the bus./
[for all one knows] {adv. phr.} According to the information one
has; probably. * /For all we know, Ron and Beth might have eloped and
been married in a French chateau./
[for all that] {adv. phr.} In spite of what has been said, alleged,
or rumored. * /Well, for all that, we think that she is still the most
deserving candidate for Congress./
[for all the world] {adv. phr.} 1. Under no circumstances. * /Betty
said she wouldn't marry Jake for all the world./ 2. Precisely;
exactly. * /It began for all the world like a successful baseball
season for the UIC Flames, when suddenly they lost to the Blue
Demons./
[for a loop] See: KNOCK FOR A LOOP or THROW FOR A LOOP.
[for a loss] See: THROW FOR A LOSS.
[for a ride] See: TAKE FOR A RIDE.
[for as much as] {conj.}, {formal} Because; since. * /For as much
as the senator is eighty years old, we feel he should not run for
reelection./ Syn.: INASMUCH AS.
[for a song] {adv. phr.}, {informal} At a low price; for a bargain
price; cheaply. * /He sold the invention for a song and its buyers
were the ones who got rich./ * /They bought the house for a song and
sold it a few years later at a good profit./
[for aught] See: FOR ALL(2).
[for bear] See: LOADED FOR BEAR.
[for better or worse] or [for better or for worse] {adv. phr.} 1.
With good or bad effect, depending on how one looks at the matter. *
/The historian did justice, for better or worse, to the careers of
several famous men./ 2. Under any eventuality; forever; always. *
/Alex and Masha decided to leave Moscow and come to Chicago, for
better or for worse./ 3. (Marriage vows) Forever, for as long as one
may live. * /With this ring I thee wed, for richer or poorer, in
sickness and in health, for better or worse, til death do us part./
[forbid] See: GOD FORBID.
[for broke] See: GO FOR BROKE.
[force] See: IN FORCE, JOIN FORCES.
[force one's hand] {v. phr.} To make you do something or tell what
you will do sooner than planned. * /Ben did not want to tell where he
was going, but his friend forced his hand./ * /Mr. Smith planned to
keep his land until prices went up, but he had so many doctor bills
that it forced his hand./
[force play] or [force-out] {n.} A play in baseball in which a
runner is out because he does not run to the next base before the
fielder with the ball touches the base. * /Bob was out at second base
when Joe hit into a force play./
[for certain] See: FOR SURE.
[for crying out loud] {informal} Used as an exclamation to show
that you feel surprised or cross. * /For crying out loud, look who's
here!/ * /For crying out loud, that's the third time you've done it
wrong./ Compare: FOR ONE'S SAKE.
[for days on end] {adv. phr.} For a long time; for many days. *
/The American tourists tried to get used to Scottish pronunciation for
days on end, but still couldn't understand what the Scots were
saying./
[for dear life] {adv. phr.} As though afraid of losing your life. *
/He was running for dear life toward town./ * /When the horse began to
run, she held on for dear life./
[fore] See: TO THE FORE.
[foremost] See: FIRST AND FOREMOST.
[forest] See: CAN'T SEE THE WOOD FOR THE TREES or CAN'T SEE THE
FOREST FOR THE TREES.
[forever and a day] {adv. phr.}, {informal} For a seemingly endless
time; forever; always. Used for emphasis. * /We waited forever and a
day to find out who won the contest./ * /They promised to remain
friends forever and a day./
[forever and ever] {adv. phr.} Forever; always. - Used for
emphasis, usually about spiritual things. * /God will live forever and
ever./
[for example] or [for instance] {adv. phr.} As an example; as
proof; to give an example or illustration. * /Not only rich men become
President. For example, Lincoln was born poor./ * /There are jobs more
dangerous than truck driving; for instance, training lions./ Compare:
FOR ONE THING.
[for fear] Because of fear. * /He left an hour early for fear of
missing his train./ * /She worried for fear that the child would be
hurt./
[for fear of] {adv. phr.} Because of being afraid of something; on
account of being scared. * /Dave refuses to go to Europe for fear of
an airplane crash and for fear of a shipwreck./
[for free] {adj. phr.}, {substandard} Without having to pay; free.
* /Hey you guys, look at this balloon! They're for free down at the
new store./
[for fun] {prep. phr.} As amusement, not seriously, as a joke. *
/Let's try to play Beethoven's Emperor Concerto together, you on one
piano, and I on another one./ Compare: IN FUN.
[forget] See: FORGIVE AND FORGET.
[forget oneself] {v. phr.} To do something one should have
remembered not to do; do something below one's usual conduct although
one knows better; let one's self-control slip. * /He forgot himself
only once at dinner - when he belched./ * /He knew he should hold his
temper, but because of the trouble he forgot himself and began to
shout./
[forgive and forget] {v.} To have no bad feelings about what
happened in the past. * /After the argument the boys decided to
forgive and forget./ Syn.: LET BYGONES BE BYGONES, LIVE AND LET LIVE.
[for good] also [for good and all] Permanently, forever, for
always. * /The lost money was gone for good./ * /He hoped that the
repairs would stop the leak for good./ * /When John graduated from
school, he decided that he was done with study for good and all./
Syn.: FOR KEEPS(2).
[for good measure] {adv. phr.} As something more added to what is
expected or needed; as an extra. * /He sold me the car at a cheap
price and included the radio for good measure./ * /She puts in the
spices the recipe calls for and then adds an extra pinch for good
measure./ Compare: IN THE BARGAIN, TO BOOT.
[for granted] See: TAKE FOR GRANTED.
[for Heaven's sake!] {adv. phr.} Please. * /"Help me, for Heaven's
sake!" the injured man cried./
[for hours on end] {adv. phr.} For many hours; for a very long
time. * /We have been trying to get this computer going for hours on
end, but we need serious professional help./
[for instance] See: FOR EXAMPLE.
[for it] See: RUN FOR IT.
[for keeps] {adv. phr.} 1. For the winner to keep. * /They played
marbles for keeps./ 2. {informal} For always; forever, * /He left town
for keeps./ Syn.: FOR GOOD. 3. Seriously, not just for fun. * /This is
not a joke, it's for keeps./ - Often used in the phrase "play for
keeps". * /The policeman knew that the robber was trying to shoot him.
He was playing for keeps./
[forked tongue] See: SPEAK WITH A FORKED TONGUE.
[fork over a lot of money] {v. phr.} To pay an excessive amount of
money often unwillingly. * /"According to my divorce decree," Alan
complained, "I have to fork over a lot of money to my ex-wife every
month."/
[fork over] or [fork out] also [fork up] {v.} To pay; pay out. *
/He had to fork over fifty dollars to have the car repaired./ Compare:
HAND OVER.
[for laughs] {adv. phr.} For pleasure; for fun; as a joke. * /The
college boys climbed up into the girls' dorms and stole some of their
dresses just for laughs, but they were punished all the same./
[for love or money] {adv. phr.} For anything; for any price. Used
in negative sentences. * /I wouldn't give him my dog for love or
money./ Compare: FOR ALL THE WORLD(1).
[form] See: RAN TRUE TO FORM.
[for no man] See: TIME AND TIDE WAIT FOR NO MAN.
[for one] As the first of several possible examples; as one
example. * /Manv people do not like certain foods. I for one do not
like cabbage./ - Also used with similar words instead of "one". *
/Several materials can be used to make the box: plywood, for one;
masonite, for another; sheet metal, for a third./
[for one's money] {prep. phr.} Regarding one's endorsement or
support; as far as one is concerned. * /For my money, the best
candidate for Congress is Ms. Smith./
[for one's part] also [on one's part] {adv. phr.} As far as you are
concerned; the way you feel or think. * /I don't know about you, but
for my part I don't want to go to that place./ Compare: AS FOR.
[for one thing] {adv. phr.} As one thing of several; as one in a
list of things. * /The teacher said, "You get a low mark, for one
thing, because you did not do your homework."/ * /The house was poorly
built; for one thing, the roof leaked./ Compare: FOR EXAMPLE, IN THE
FIRST PLACE.
[for real(1)] {adj. phr.}, {informal} Not practice or play;
earnest, real, serious. * /The war games were over now. This battle
was for real./
[for real(2)] {adv. phr.}, {substandard} Not for practice; really;
seriously. * /Let's do our work for real./
[for one's sake] {adv. phr.}, {informal} Used with different
possessive nouns to show surprise, crossness, or impatience. * /For
heaven's sake, where did you come from?/ * /For Pete's sake, look
who's here!/ * /Well, for pity's sake, I wish you'd told me sooner./ *
/Oh, for gosh sake, let me do it./
[for shame] {interj.} Shame on you; you should be ashamed of
yourself. - An exclamation no longer in common use, having been
largely replaced by "shame on you". * /"For shame, John, taking the
toy from your baby brother!"/
[for short] {adv. phr.} So as to make shorter; as an abbreviation
or nickname. * /The boy's name was Humperdink, or "Dink" for short./ *
/The National Broadcasting Company is called NBC for short./
[for sure] or [for certain] {adv. phr.} 1. Without doubt;
certainly; surely. * /He couldn't tell for sure from a distance
whether it was George or Tom./ * /He didn't know for certain which bus
to take./ * /I know for certain that he has a car./ 2. {slang}
Certain. * /"That car is smashed so badly it's no good any more."
"That's for sure!"/ Compare: SURE THING.
[fort] See: HOLD THE FORT.
[forth] See: AND SO FORTH, BACK AND FORTH, CALL FORTH, HOLD FORTH,
SET FORTH.
[for that matter] {adv. phr.} With regard to that; about that. * /I
don't know, and for that matter, I don't care./ * /Alice didn't come,
and for that matter, she didn't even telephone./ Compare: MATTER OP
FACT,
[for the asking] {adv. phr.} By asking; by asking for it; on
request. * /John said I could borrow his bike any time. It was mine
for the asking./ * /Teacher said her advice was free for the asking./
[for the best] {adj.} or {adv. phr.} good or best; not bad as
thought; lucky; well, happily. * /Maybe it's for the best that your
team lost; now you know how the other boys felt./ * /John's parents
thought it would be for the best if he stayed out of school for the
rest of the year./ Often used in the phrase "turn out for the best". *
/You feel unhappy now because you got sick and couldn't go with your
friends, but it will all turn out for the best./ Compare: TURN OUT(6).
Contrast: FOR THE WORSE.
[for the better] {adj.} or {adv. phr.} With a better result; for
something that is better. * /The doctor felt that moving Father to a
dry climate would be for the better./ * /The new large print in the
book is a change for the better./ Compare: TAKE A TURN. Contrast: FOR
THE WORSE.
[for the birds] {adj. phr.}, {slang} Not interesting; dull; silly;
foolish; stupid. * /I think history is for the birds./ * /I saw that
movie. It's for the birds./
[for the books] See: ONE FOR THE BOOKS.
[for the devil] or [heck] or [the hell of it] {adv. phr.} For no
specific reason; just for sport and fun. * /We poured salt into Uncle
Tom's coffee, just for the heck of it./ See: DEVIL OF IT.
[for the hills] See: HEAD FOR THE HILLS.
[for the life of one] {adv.}, {informal} No matter how hard you
try. - Used for emphasis with negative statements. * /I can't for the
life of me remember his name./
[for the moon] See: ASK FOR THE MOON or CRY FOR THE MOON.
[for the most part] {adv. phr.} In general; mostly; most of the
time; commonly; generally. * /European countries are, for the most
part, tired of war./ Syn.: BY AND LARGE, ON THE WHOLE.
[for the nonce] See: FOR THE TIME BEING.
[for the ride] See: ALONG FOR THE RIDE.
[for the sake of] or [for one's sake] {adv. phr.} On behalf of; for
the benefit of. * /For the sake of truth and freedom, Dr. Sakharov,
the Soviet dissident, was willing to be banished from Moscow./ * /"Do
it for my sake, please!" Tom begged./
[for the time being] also {literary} [for the nonce] {adv. phr.}
For now; for a while; temporarily. * /I haven't any note paper, but
this envelope will do for the time being./ * /She hasn't found an
apartment yet; she's staying with her aunt for the time being./
[for the world] See: NOT FOR THE WORLD.
[for the worse] {adj. phr.} or {adv. phr.} For something that is
worse or not as good, with a worse result. * /He bought a new car but
it turned out to be for the worse./ * /The sick man's condition
changed for the worse./ Compare: TAKE A TURN. Contrast: FOR THE
BETTER.
[for to] {prep. phr.}, {dialect} So that you can; to. * /Simple
Simon went a-fishing for to catch a whale./ Syn.: IN ORDER TO.
[forty winks] {n. phr.}, {informal} A short period of sleep; a nap.
* /When the truck driver felt sleepy, he stopped by the side of the
road to catch forty winks./ Compare: SHUT-EYE.
[forward] See: BACKWARD AND FORWARD, LOOK FORWARD TO, PUT ONE'S
BEST FOOT FORWARD.
[forward wall] {n.} The line of a football team. * /Princeton 's
line outplayed the Rutgers forward wall./
[for you] See: THAT'S --- FOR YOU.
[foul ball] {n.} A batted baseball that lands outside the foul
line. * /Mickey hit a long foul ball that landed on the roof./
[foul line] {n.} 1. Either of two lines separating fair from foul
ground in baseball. * /Willie hit the ball just inside the foul line
for a double./ 2. A line across the upper end of a bowling alley
across which a bowler must not step. * /John bowled a strike but it
didn't count because he stepped over the foul line./ 3. A line on the
floor in front of the basket in basketball, from which foul shots are
made. * /Tony scored eight points from the foul line./
[foul out] {v.} 1. To make an out in baseball by hitting a foul fly
ball that is caught. * /He fouled out to the catcher./ 2. To be forced
to leave a basketball game because of getting more than the limit
number of personal fouls. * /A professional basketball player is
allowed six personal fouls before fouling out./
[foul play] {n.} Treachery; a criminal act (such as murder). *
/After they discovered the dead body, the police suspected foul play./
* /"She must have met with foul play," the chief inspector said when
they couldn't find the 12-year-old girl who had disappeared./
[foul shot] {n.} A free throw given in basketball to a player who
has been fouled. * /Tony was given two foul shots when he was fouled
while trying to shoot./ Compare: FIELD GOAL 2, FREE THROW.
[foul up] {v.}, {informal} 1. To make dirty. * /The birds fouled up
his newly washed car./ 2. To tangle up. * /He tried to throw a lasso
but he got the rope all fouled up./ 3. To ruin or spoil by stupid
mistakes; botch. * /He fouled the whole play up by forgetting his
part./ 4. To make a mistake; to blunder. * /Blue suit and brown socks!
He had fouled up again./ 5. To go wrong. * /Why do some people foul up
and become criminals?/
[foul-up] {n.} (stress on "foul") 1. {informal} A confused
situation; confusion; mistake. * /The luncheon was handled with only
one or two foul-ups./ 2. {informal} A breakdown. * /There was a
foul-up in his car's steering mechanism./ 3. {slang} A person who
fouls up or mixes things. * /He had gotten a reputation as a foul-up./
[foundation garment] {n.} A close-fitting garment designed for
women to wear underneath their clothes to make them look slim; a piece
of woman's underwear. * /Jane wears a foundation garment under her
evening dress./
[four] See: HIT ON ALL FOUR, ON ALL FOURS.
[four bits] {n.}, {slang} Fifty cents. * /Tickets to the play are
four bits," said Bill./ Compare: TWO BITS.
[four corners] {n.} All parts of a place. * /People came from the
four corners of the world to see him./ * /He has been to the four
corners of the country./ Compare: ALL OVER.
[four-eyes] {n.}, {slang} A person who wears glasses. - A rude
expression, * /Hey, four-eyes, come over here./
[four-leaf clover] {n.} A small green plant with four leaves which
many people think means good luck because clover plants usually have
three leaves. * /John has a four-leaf clover in his pocket. He thinks
he will have good luck now./
[fourth class] {n.} A class of mail that is not sealed and weighs a
pound or more, that includes things that are bought and sold and sent
in the mail, and printed things that are not second or third class
mail. * /Bill sent away 98 cereal box tops and a dollar and got back a
sheriff's badge and gun in the mail by fourth class./
[fourth-class(1)] {adj.} Belonging to the fourth class of mail. *
/The package weighed a pound and a half, so it had to be sent by
fourth-class mail./
[fourth-class(2)] {adv.} By fourth-class mail. * /How did the
company mail the package? Fourth-class./
[fourth world] {n.}, {informal} The poor nations of the world, as
distinguished from the oil-rich nations of the third world. * /Sri
Lanka will never join OPEC, since it is a fourth world nation./
[fowl] See: NEITHER FISH NOR FOWL.
[fox and geese] {n. phr.} A tag game in which the player
representing the fox tries to catch one of the players representing
geese as they run around the outside of a circle.
[fraidy-cat] or [fraid-cat] or [scaredy-cat] or [scared cat] {n.},
{informal} A shy person; someone who is easily frightened. - Usually
used by or to children. * /Tom was a fraidy-cat and wouldn't go in the
water./
[frame of mind] {n. phr.} One's mental outlook; the state of one's
psychological condition, * /There is no use trying to talk to him
while he is in such a negative frame of mind./
[freak] {n.}, {slang} 1. A good, or well-liked person, the opposite
of a square, someone with long hair and who is likely (or known) to be
a marijuana smoker or a drug user. Also said of homosexuals. * /Is Joe
a square, establishment type? - Oh no, he's a regular freak./ 2. [---
freak] An enthusiast, a person who does or cultivates something in
excess. * /Ellen is a film-freak./
[freak-out(1)] {n.}, {slang} An act of losing control; a situation
that is bizarre or unusual. * /The party last night was a regular
freak-out./
[freak out(2)] {v. phr.}, {slang} To lose control over one's
conscious self due to the influence of hallucinogenic drugs. * /Joe
freaked out last night./
[free] See: FOR FREE, MAKE FREE, MAKE FREE WITH, OF ONE'S OWN
ACCORD or OF ONE'S OWN FREE WILL.
[free agent] {n.} A professional player who does not have a
contract with a team. * /The Giants signed two free agents who had
been released by the Cardinals./
[free and easy] {adj.} Not strict; relaxed or careless. * /The
teacher was free and easy with his students./ * /He had a free and
easy way of acting that attracted many friends./ * /They were free and
easy with their money and it was soon gone./
[free ball] {n.} A ball in football that is in play, that is not in
the possession of anyone, that is not a legally thrown forward pass,
and that belongs to the first team which can grab it. * /A Notre Dame
player fell on a free ball and recovered it for his team./
[free enterprise] {n. phr.} A system in which private business is
controlled by as few government rules as possible. * /The United
States is proud of its free enterprise./
[free hand] {n.} Great freedom. * /The teacher had a free hand in
her classroom./ * /Bob put paint on the fence with a free hand./
Compare: FREE REIN.
[freeload] {v.} To have oneself supported in terms of food and
housing at someone else's expense. * /When are you guys going to stop
freeloading and do some work?/
[free rein] {n.} Freedom to do what you want. * /The king had free
rein in his country./ * /Father is strict with the children, but
Mother gives them free rein./ Compare: FREE HAND.
[free throw] {n.} A shot at the basket in basketball without
interference from opponents. * /Mike scored the winning point on a
free throw./ Compare: FIELD GOAL(2), FOUL SHOT.
[free-for-all] {n.} 1. Unlimited, free access to something
everybody wants. * /The Smith's party was a lavish free-for-all;
everybody could eat and drink as much as they wanted./ 2. A barroom,
tavern, or street fight in which everybody participates. * /The
celebration after the soccer game victory turned into an
uncontrollable free-for-all./
[freeze] See: BLOOD RUNS COLD or BLOOD FREEZES.
[freeze one's blood] See: BLOOD RUNS COLD.
[freeze out] {v.}, {informal} To force out or keep from a share or
part in something by unfriendly or dishonest treatment. * /The other
boys froze John out of the club./
[freeze over] {v.} To become covered with ice. * /The children
wanted the lake to freeze over so they could ice-skate./
[French fried potato] or [French fry] {n.} A narrow strip of potato
fried in deep fat. - Usually used in the plural. * /Sue ordered a
hamburger and french fries./
[French leave] {n.} The act of slipping away from a place secretly
and without saying good-bye to anyone. * /"It's getting late," Rob
whispered to Janet. "Let's take French leave and get out of here."/
[fresh from] {adj.} Recently returned from; experienced in. * /Tom
was fresh from two years in Paris and was very condescending in
matters pertaining to cuisine and wines./
[friction tape] {n.} Black cloth tape with one sticky side used
around electric wires. * /The boy fixed his cracked baseball bat with
some friction tape./
[Friday] See: GIRL FRIDAY.
[friend] See: BOY FRIEND, FAIR-WEATHER FRIEND, GIRL FRIEND, LADY
FRIEND, MAKE FRIENDS.
[friends with] Friendly to; a friend of. * /Alice found several
girls to be friends with on the first day of school./ * /At first I
didn't like John, but now I am friends with him./
[frightened out of one's wits] See: OUT OF ONE'S WITS.
[frightened to death] See: TO DEATH.
[fritter away] See: FOOL AWAY.
[fro] See: TO AND FRO.
[frog] See: BIG FROG IN A SMALL POND, LITTLE FROG IN A BIG POND.
[from bad to worse] See: GO FROM BAD TO WORSE.
[from grace] See: FALL FROM GRACE.
[from hand to hand] {adv. phr.} From one person to another and
another. * /The box of candy was passed from hand to hand./ * /Jane
brought her engagement ring, and it passed from hand to hand until all
the girls had admired it./
[from hand to mouth] See: LIVE FROM HAND TO MOUTH.
[from little acorns] See: GREAT OAKS FROM LITTLE ACORNS GROW.
[from Missouri] {adj. phr.}, {slang} Doubtful; suspicious. * /Don't
try to fool me. I'm from Missouri./
[from mouth to mouth] {adv. phr.} See: BY WORD OF MOUTH.
[from pillar to post] {adv. phr.} From one place to another many
times. * /Sarah's father changed jobs several times a year, and the
family was moved from pillar to post./
[from rags to riches] {adv. phr.} Suddenly making a fortune;
becoming rich overnight. * /The Smiths went from rags to riches when
they unexpectedly won the lottery./
[from scratch] {adv. phr.}, {informal} With no help from anything
done before; from the beginning; from nothing. * /Dick built a radio
from scratch./ * /In sewing class, Mary already knew how to sew a
little, but Jane had to start from scratch./ Compare: FROM THE GROUND
UP.
[from the bottom of one's heart] or [with all one's heart] {adv.
phr.} With great feeling; sincerely. * /A mother loves a baby from the
bottom of her heart./ * /John thanked his rescuer from the bottom of
his heart./ * /The people welcomed the returning soldiers from the
bottom of their hearts./
[from the door] See: KEEP THE WOLF FROM THE DOOR.
[from the ground up] {adv. phr.} From the beginning; entirely;
completely. * /After the fire they had to rebuild their cabin from the
ground up./ * /Sam knows about baseball from the ground up./ * /The
new cars have been changed from the ground up./
[from the heart] {adv.} Sincerely; honestly. * /John always speaks
from the heart./
[from the word "go"] {adv. phr.} From start to finish; completely.
* /He may look French but he is a New Yorker from the word "go."/
[from time to time] {adv. phr.} Not often; not regularly;
sometimes; occasionally; at one time and then again at another time. *
/Even though the Smiths have moved, we still see them from time to
time./ * /Mother tries new recipes from time to time, but the children
never like them./ Syn.: NOW AND THEN, AT TIMES, ONCE IN A WHILE.
Compare: BY FITS AND STARTS, OFF AND ON.
[from --- to ---] 1. Used with a repeated word to show that
something keeps on. Without ending. * /The world grows wiser from age
to age./ * /He goes from day to day without changing his necktie./ -
Also used in a short form like an adjective. * /The superintendent
spends more time on plans for the future, and the principal handles
the day-to-day problems of the school./ 2. Used with a repeated word
to show that something happens again and again. * /She sells face
cream from door to door./ * /The artist goes from place to place
painting pictures./ - Also used in a short form like an adjective. *
/Mr. Roberts began as a door-to-door salesman, and now is president of
the company./ 3. Used with words showing opposite or extreme limits,
often to emphasize that something is very large or complete. * /The
eagle's wings measured six feet from tip to tip./ * /Sarah read the
book from cover to cover./ * /Mrs. Miller's dinner included everything
from soup to nuts./ * /That book is a bestseller from Maine to
California./ * /The captain looked the boy over from head to foot./ *
/The dog sniffed the yard from end to end in search of a bone./ *
/This new car has been redesigned from top to bottom./ * /That
bookstore has books on everything from archery to zoology./ * /The
television show was broadcast from coast to coast./ * /He knows
mathematics from A to Z./ - Sometimes used in a short form like an
adjective. * /The airplane made a non-stop coast-to-coast flight./
[from under] See: OUT FROM UNDER, PULL THE RUG OUT FROM UNDER.
[from way back] {adv. phr.} From a previous time; from a long time
ago. * /They have known one another from way back when they went to
the same elementary school./
[front] See: IN FRONT OF.
[front and center] {adv.}, {slang} Used as a command to a person to
go to someone who wants him. * /Front and center, Smith. The boss
wants to see you./
[front court] {n.} The half of a basketball court that is a
basketball team's offensive zone. * /The guard brought the ball up to
the front court./
[front office] {n.}, {informal} The group of persons who manage a
business; the officers. * /The front office decides how much the
workers are paid./
[frown upon] {v. phr.} To look with disfavor upon somebody or
something. * /Everybody in her family frowns upon her attachment to
him./
[fruitcake] See: NUTTY AS A FRUITCAKE.
[fry] See: OTHER FISH TO FRY, OUT OF THE FRYING PAN INTO THE FIRE,
SMALL FRY.
[fuck around] {v. phr.}, {vulgar}, {avoidable} 1. To be
promiscuous. * /John fucks around with the secretaries./ 2. To play at
something without purpose, to mess around. * /He doesn't accomplish
anything, because he fucks around so much./
[fuck off] {v. phr.}, {vulgar}, {avoidable} 1. Go away! * /Can't
you see you're bothering me? Fuck off!/ 2. To be lazy. * /John said "I
don't feel like working, so I'll fuck off today."/ Compare: BEAT IT,
GOOF OFF.
[fuck up] {v. phr.}, {vulgar}, {avoidable} To make a mess of
something or oneself. * /Because he was totally unprepared, he fucked
up his exam./ * /He is so fucked up he doesn't know whether he is
coming or going./
[fuck-up] {n.}, {vulgar}, {avoidable} A mess; a badly botched
situation. * /What a fuck-up the dissolution of the USSR created!/
[fuddy-duddy] {n.} A person whose ideas and habits are
old-fashioned. * /His students think Professor Jones is an old
fuddy-duddy./
[fuel] See: ADD FUEL TO THE FLAME.
[full] See: HAVE ONE'S HANDS FULL, IN FULL SWING, TO THE FULL.
[full blast] {adv.} At full capacity. * /With all the research
money at their disposal, the new computer firm was going ahead full
blast./
[full-bodied] {adj.} Mature; of maximum quality. * /The wines from
that region in California have a rich, full-bodied flavor./
[full-fledged] {adj.} Having everything that is needed to be
something; complete. * /A girl needs three years of training to be a
full-fledged nurse./ * /The book was a full-fledged study of American
history./
[full of beans] {adj. phr.}, {slang} 1. Full of pep; feeling good;
in high spirits. * /The football team was full of beans after winning
the tournament./ * /The children were full of beans as they got ready
for a picnic./ 2. also [full of prunes] Being foolish and talking
nonsense. * /You are full of prunes; that man's not 120 years old./
[full of it] See: FULL OF THE OLD NICK.
[full of oneself] {adj. phr.}, {informal} Interested only in
yourself. * /Joe would be a nice boy if he would stop being so full of
himself./ Compare: BIG HEAD.
[full of prunes] See: FULL OF BEANS(2).
[full of the moon] {n. phr.}, {literary} The moon when it is seen
as a full circle; the time of a full moon. * /The robbers waited for a
dark night when the full of the moon was past./ Contrast: DARK OF THE
MOON.
[full of the Old Nick] or [full of the devil] or [full of it] {adj.
phr.}, {informal} Always making trouble; naughty; bad. * /That boy is
full of the Old Nick./
[full tilt] {adv.} At full speed; at high speed. * /He ran full
tilt into the door and broke his arm./
[fun] See: MAKE FUN OF.
[fun and games] {n.}, {slang}, {informal} 1. A party or other
entertaining event. 2. Something trivially easy. 3. Petting, or sexual
intercourse. 4. (Ironically) An extraordinary difficult task. * /How
was your math exam? (With a dismayed expression): - Yeah, it was all
fun and games, man./
[fun house] {n.} A place where people see many funny things and
have tricks played on them to make them laugh or have a good time. *
/The boys and girls had a good time looking at themselves in mirrors
in the fun house./
[funny bone] {n.} 1. The place at the back of the elbow that hurts
like electricity when accidentally hit. * /He hit his funny bone on
the arm of the chair./ 2. or {informal} [crazy bone] Sense of humor;
understanding jokes. * /Her way of telling the story tickled his funny
bone./
[fur] See: MAKE THE FUR FLY.
[furious] See: FAST AND FURIOUS.
[fuse] See: BLOW A FUSE.
[fuss] See: KICK UP A FUSS.
[fuss and feathers] {n.}, {informal} Unnecessary bother and
excitement. * /She is full of fuss and feathers this morning./
[gab] See: GIFT OF GAB or GIFT OF THE GAB.
[gaff] See: STAND THE GAFF.
[gain ground] {v. phr.} 1. To go forward; move ahead. * /The
soldiers fought hard and began to gain ground./ 2. To become stronger;
make progress; improve. * /The sick man gained ground after being near
death./ * /Under Lincoln, the Republican Party gained ground./
Contrast: LOSE GROUND.
[gallery] See: PLAY TO THE GALLERY.
[gallon] See: TEN-GALLON HAT.
[gallows' humor] {n. phr.} Bitter joke(s) that make fun of a very
serious matter, e.g. death, imprisonment, etc. * /When the criminal
was led to the electric chair on Monday morning, he said, "Nice way to
start the week, eh?"/
[game] See: AHEAD OF THE GAME, LOVE GAME, NAME OF THE GAME, PLAY
THE GAME, AT --- STAGE OF THE GAME.
[game at which two can play] {n. phr.} A plan, trick, or way of
acting that both sides may use. * /Rough football is a game two can
play./ * /Politics is a game at which two can play./
[game is not worth the candle] {literary} What is being done is not
worth the trouble or cost; the gain is not worth the effort. * /I
don't want to walk so far on such a hot day. The game is not worth the
candle./
[game is up] or {slang} [jig is up] The secret or plan won't work;
we are caught or discovered. * /The game is up; the teacher knows who
took her keys./ * /The jig's up; the principal knows the boys have
been smoking in the basement./ Compare: FAT IS IN THE FIRE.
[gang] See: ROAD GANG, SECTION GANG.
[gang up on] or [gang up against] {v. phr.}, {informal} To jointly
attack someone, either physically or verbally; take sides in a group
against an individual. * /The class bully was stronger than all the