Текст книги "Словарь американских идиом: 8000 единиц"

Автор книги: Adam Makkai

Соавторы: Maya Glinberg
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[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./