ted  "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 l