Текст книги "Словарь американских идиом: 8000 единиц"

Автор книги: Adam Makkai

Соавторы: Maya Glinberg
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Текущая страница: 17 (всего у книги 61 страниц)

[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./