F

[face] See: BLUE IN THE FACE, CUT OFF ONE’S NOSE TO SPITE ONE’S FACE, FLY IN THE FACE OF, HATCHET FACE, HIDE ONE’S FACE, IN ONE’S FACE, IN THE FACE OF, LONG FACE, LOOK IN THE EYE or LOOK IN THE FACE, MAKE A FACE, ON THE FACE OF IT, SAVE FACE, SET ONE’S FACE AGAINST, SHOOT OFF ONE’S MOUTH or SHOOT OFF ONE’S FACE, SHOW ONE’S FACE, SLAP IN THE FACE, STARE IN THE FACE, STRAIGHT FACE, THROW IN ONE’S FACE, TO ONE’S FACE.

[face down]{v. phr.} To get the upper hand over someone by behaving forcefully; disconcert someone by the displaying of great self-assurance. •/The night guard faced down the burglar by staring him squarely in the face./ Contrast: FACE UP.

[face lift]{n. phr.} 1. A surgical procedure designed to make one’s face look younger. •/Aunt Jane, who is in her seventies, had an expensive face lift and now she looks as if she were 40./ 2. A renovation, a refurbishing. •/Our house needs a major face lift to make it fit in with the rest of the neighborhood./

[face-saver], [face-saving] See: SAVE FACE.

[face the music]{v. phr.}, {informal} To go through trouble or danger, especially because of something you did; accept your punishment. •/The boy was caught cheating in an examination and had to face the music./ •/The official who had been taking bribes was exposed by a newspaper, and had to face the music./ •/George knew his mother would cry when he told her, but he decided to go home and face the music./ Compare: MAKE ONE’S BED AND LIE IN IT, PAY THE PIPER, TAKE ONE’S MEDICINE.

[face-to-face]{adv. phr.} 1. With your face looking toward the face of another person; each facing the other. •/Turning a corner, he found himself face-to-face with a policeman./ •/The two teams for the spelling bee stood face-to-face on opposite sides of the classroom./ •/The church and the school stand face-to-face across the street./ 2. In the presence of another or others. •/She was thrilled to meet the President face-to-face./ •/I have heard about him, but I never met him face-to-face./ Compare: IN PERSON. 3. To the point where you must do something. — Used with "with". •/The solution of the first problem brought him face-to-face with a second problem./ Compare: UP AGAINST.

[face-to-face]{adj.} Being in the presence of a person; being right with someone. •/The British prime minister came to Washington for a face-to-face meeting with the President./

[face up to]{v. phr.} 1. To bravely confront a person or a challenge; admit. •/Jack doesn’t want to face up to the fact that Helen doesn’t love him anymore./ •/Jane cannot face up to her mother-in-law who always wins every argument they have./ 2. To confess something to someone; confess to having done something. •/Jim had to face up to having stolen a sweater from the department store./ Contrast: FACE DOWN.

[face value]{n.} 1. The worth or price printed on a stamp, bond, note, piece of paper money, etc. •/The savings bond had a face value of $25./ 2. The seeming worth or truth of something. •/She took his stories at face value and did not know he was joking./

[faced with]{adj. phr.} Confronted with. •/We were all faced with the many wars that broke out in the wake of the collapse of communism./

[fact] See: IN FACT, MATTER-OF-FACT.

[facts of life]{n. phr.} 1. The truth which we should know about sex, marriage, and births. •/His father told him the facts of life when he was old enough./ 2. The truths one learns about people and their good and bad habits of life, work or play. •/As a cub reporter he would learn the facts of life in the newspaper world./

[fade back]{v.} To back away from the line before passing in football. •/The quarterback is fading back to pass./ Compare: DROP BACK.

[fail] See: WITHOUT FAIL.

[fail to do]{v. phr.} To neglect to do something that is expected of one. •/Tom waited for Jane for nearly an hour, but she failed to show up./

[fair] See: BID FAIR, PLAY FAIR.

[fair and square]{adv. phr.}, {informal} Without cheating; honestly. •/He won the game fair and square./

[fair catch]{n.} A catch of a kicked football by a player after he holds up his hand to show that he will not run with the ball. •/He saw that he would not be able to run with the ball, so he signalled for a fair catch./

[fair-haired boy]{n.}, {informal} A person that gets special favors; favorite; pet. •/If he wins the election by a large majority, he will become his party’s fair-haired boy./ •/The local boy playing first base could do no wrong; he was the fair-haired boy of the fans./ •/Charles was a good student and behaved very well; he became the teacher’s fair-haired boy./

[fair play]{n.} Equal and right action (to another person); justice. •/The visiting team did not get fair play in the game./ •/The judges decided against Bob, but he said that he had gotten fair play./ •/Sally’s sense of fair play made her a favorite with her classmates./

[fair sex]{n.}, {informal} Women in general; the female sex. •/"Better not use four-letter words in front of a member of the fair sex," Joe said./

[fair shake]{n.}, {informal} Honest treatment. •/Joe has always given me a fair shake./

[fair-weather friend]{n.} A person who is a friend only when you are successful. •/Everyone knows that John’s only a fair-weather friend./

[fairy godmother]{n.} 1. A fairy believed to help and take care of a baby as it grows up. 2. A person who helps and does much for another. •/The rich man played fairy godmother to the boys and had a baseball field made for them./ •/Jane was a fairy godmother to her poorer friends./

[fairy tale] or [story] {n.} An inaccurate, even false account of something; a result of wishful thinking. •/Jeff said he was going to be promoted soon, but we all suspect that it is only one of his customary fairy tales./

[faith] See: GOOD FAITH, ON FAITH.

[fall] See: BOTTOM DROP OUT or BOTTOM FALL OUT, RIDING FOR A FALL.

[fall all over]{v. phr.}, {informal} To show too much love or thanks toward (someone). •/She must love him. Every time you see them, she’s falling all over him./ •/When Bob found the lady’s ring and returned it, she fell all over him./

[fall asleep at the switch]{v. phr.} To fail to perform an expected task; be remiss in one’s duty. •/The two airplanes wouldn’t have collided, if the control tower operator hadn’t fallen asleep at the switch./ •/The dean promised our department $250,000 but the foundation never sent the money because someone in the dean’s office fell asleep at the switch./

[fall away]{v. phr.} To decline; diminish. •/I was shocked to see how haggard Alan looked; he seems to be falling away to a shadow./

[fall back]{v.} To move back; go back. — Usually used with a group as subject. •/The army fell back before their stubborn enemies./ •/The crowd around the hurt boy fell back when someone shouted "Give him air!"/ Compare: DROP BACK, GIVE WAY.

[fall back on] or [fall back upon] v. 1. To retreat to. •/The enemy made a strong attack, and the soldiers fell back on the fort./ 2. To go for help to; turn to in time of need. •/When the big bills for Mother’s hospital care came, Joe was glad he had money in the bank to fall back on./ •/If Mr. Jones can’t find a job as a teacher, he can fall back on his skill as a printer./

[fall behind]{v.} To go slower than others and be far behind them. •/When the campers took a hike in the woods, two boys fell behind and got lost./ •/Frank’s lessons were too hard for him, and he soon fell behind the rest of the class./ •/Mary was not promoted because she dreamed too much and fell behind in her lessons./

[fall by the wayside] also [drop by the wayside] {v. phr.} To give up or fail before the finish. •/The boys tried to make a 50-mile hike, but most of them fell by the wayside./ •/George, Harry, and John entered college to become teachers, but Harry and John fell by the wayside, and only George graduated./

[fall down on the job]{v. phr.}, {informal} To fail to work well. •/The boss was disappointed when his workers fell down on the job./

[fall due] or [come] or [become due] {v. phr.} To reach the time when a bill or invoice is to be paid. •/Our car payment falls due on the first of every month./

[fall flat]{v.}, {informal} To be a failure; fail. •/The party fell flat because of the rain./ •/His joke fell flat because no one understood it./

[fall for]{v.}, {slang} 1. To begin to like very much. •/Dick fell for baseball when he was a little boy./ 2. To begin to love (a boy or a girl.) •/Helen was a very pretty girl and people were not surprised that Bill fell for her./ 3. To believe (something told to fool you.) •/Nell did not fall for Joe’s story about being a jet pilot./

[fall from grace]{v. phr.} To go back to a bad way of behaving; do something bad again. •/The boys behaved well during dinner until they fell from grace by eating their dessert with their fingers instead of their forks./ •/The boy fell from grace when he lied./

[fall guy]{n.}, {slang} The "patsy" in an illegal transaction; a sucker; a dupe; the person who takes the punishment others deserve. •/When the Savings and Loan Bank failed, due to embezzlement, the vice president had to be the fall guy, saving the necks of the owners./

[fall in]{v.} 1. To go and stand properly in a row like soldiers. •/The captain told his men to fall in./ Contrast: FALL OUT(3). 2. to collapse. •/The explosion caused the walls of the house to fall in./

[fall in for]{v.} To receive; get. •/The boy fell in for some sympathy when he broke his leg./ •/The team manager fell in for most of the blame when his team lost the playoffs./

[falling-out]{n.} Argument; disagreement; quarrel. •/Mary and Jane had a falling-out about who owned the book./ •/The boys had a falling-out when each said that the other had broken the rules./

[fall in line] or [fall into line] See: IN LINE, INTO LINE.

[fall in love] See: IN LOVE.

[fall in] or [into place] {v. phr.} To suddenly make sense; find the natural or proper place for the missing pieces of a puzzle. •/When the detectives realized that a second man was seen at the place of the murder, the pieces of the puzzle began to fall into place./

[fall in with]{v.}, {informal} 1. To meet by accident. •/Mary fell in with some of her friends downtown./ 2. To agree to help with; support. •/I fell in with Jack’s plan to play a trick on his father./ 3. To become associated with a group detrimental to the newcomer. •/John fell in with a wild bunch; small wonder he flunked all of his courses./ Compare: PLAY ALONG.

[fall into the habit of]{v. phr.} To develop the custom of doing something. •/Jack has fallen into the bad habit of playing poker for large sums of money every night./

[fall off] See: DROP OFF(4).

[fall off the wagon]{v. phr.}, {slang}, {alcoholism and drug 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 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./