answers  or
arguments against (someone). * /The governor was an expert at  fencing
with reporters at press conferences./

   [ferret out] {literary} or [smell out] or [sniff out] {v.} To  hunt
or drive from hiding; to bring out into the open; search for and find.
* /John ferreted out the answer to the question  in  the  library./  *
/Jane smelled out the boys' secret hiding place in the woods./

   [few] See: MAN OF FEW WORDS, NOT A FEW, QUITE A FEW.

   [few and far between] {adj. phr.} Not many; few and scattered;  not
often met or found; rare. - Used in the predicate. * /People who  will
work as hard as Thomas A. Edison are few and far between./  *  /Places
where you can get water are few and far  between  in  the  desert./  *
/Really exciting games are few and far between./

   [fickle finger of fate] See: ACT OF GOD.

   [fiddle] See: PLAY SECOND FIDDLE.

   [fiddle around] See: FOOL AROUND(3).

   [fiddler] See: PAY THE PIPER or PAY THE FIDDLER.

   [fiddle with] {v. phr.} To carelessly play with  something.  *  /If
Jimmy continues to fiddle with our computer, he is liable to ruin it./

   [field] See: CENTER FIELD, LEFT FIELD, OUT IN LEFT FIELD, PLAY  THE
FIELD, RIGHT FIELD.

   [field goal] {n.} 1. A score in football made by kicking  the  ball
over the bar between the goal posts. * /The Giants were  not  able  to
make a touchdown but they kicked  two  field  goals./  Compare:  EXTRA
POINT. 2. A score in basketball made by a successful shot through  the
basket not made on a free throw. * /A field goal counts  two  points./
Compare: FOUL SHOT, FREE THROW.

   [fifth] See: TAKE THE FIFTH.

   [fifth column] {n. phr.} A group or organization within  a  country
that works to bring about the country's downfall, usually through acts
of espionage and sabotage. * /The Communist party in the United States
was considered by Senator McCarthy to  be  the  Soviet  Union's  fifth
column./

   [flfty-flfty(1)] {adv.}, {informal} Equally;  evenly.  *  /The  two
boys divided the marbles they won fifty-fifty./ * /When Dick  and  Sam
bought an old car, they divided the cost fifty-fifty./

   [fifty-fifty(2)] {adj.}, {informal} 1. Divided or shared equally. *
/It will be a fifty-fifty arrangement; half the money for me and  half
for you./ 2. Half for and half against; half  good  and  half  bad.  *
/There is only a fifty-fifty  chance  that  we  will  win  the  game./
Compare: HALF AND HALF.

   [fight against time] See: RACING TO STAND STILL.

   [fight fire with fire] {v. phr.}, {slightly formal},  {of  Biblical
origin} To fight back in the same way one was attacked; make a defense
similar to the attack. * /The candidate was determined to  fight  fire
with fire in the debate./

   [fight it out] See: SLUG IT OUT.

   [fighting chance] {n. phr.} A chance that necessitates struggle and
courage; a slim chance. * /The doctor told the family that Jack had  a
fighting chance to recover./ * /Our business lost a lot of  money,  but
we have a fighting chance to stage a comeback./

   [fight off] {v. phr.} 1. To struggle against someone so as to  free
oneself; push an attacker back. * /Suzy fought off her  two  attackers
in Central Park with a couple  of  karate  chops./  2.  To  strive  to
overcome something negative. * /After twelve  hours  at  the  computer
terminal, Jane had to fight off  her  overwhelming  desire  to  go  to
sleep./

   [fight shy of] {v. phr.} To avoid;  escape  from.  *  /Jack  always
fights shy of anything that even remotely resembles serious work./

   [fight tooth and nail] See: TOOTH AND NAIL.

   [figure in] {v.} 1. {informal} To add to a total; remember  to  put
down in figures. * /We figured in the travel expenses but  forgot  the
cost of meals./ 2. To have a part in; be  partly  responsible  for.  *
/Joe figured in all our touchdowns./ * /Mary's good grades figured  in
her choice as class president./

   [figure on] {v.} 1. To expect and think about while making plans. *
/We did not figure on having so many people  at  the  picnic./  *  /He
figured on going to town the next day./ Syn.: PLAN ON.  2.  To  depend
on; be; sure about. * /You can figure on him to  be  on  time./  Syn.:
COUNT ON.

   [figure out] {v.} 1. To find an  answer  by  thinking  about  (some
problem or difficulty); solve. * /Tom couldn't  figure  out  the  last
problem on the arithmetic test./ * /Sam couldn't  figure  out  how  to
print a program until the teacher showed him how./  *  /Mary  couldn't
figure out why her cake tasted so funny until she found salt mixed  in
the sugar bag./ Compare: FIND OUT(1). 2.  To  learn  how  to  explain;
understand. * /Laurence is an  odd  boy;  I  can't  figure  him  out./
Compare: MAKE OUT(2).

   [figure up] {v. phr.} To calculate; add up. * /If you can figure up
how many phone calls I've made from your home, I will  pay  you  right
away./

   [fill in] {v.} 1. To write words needed in blanks; put in; fill.  *
/You should fill in all the blanks on an application for  a  job./  2.
{informal} To tell what you should know. * /The new  boy  didn't  know
the rules so Bob filled him in./ * /The teacher filled in  Mary  about
class work done while she was  sick./  3.  To  take  another's  place;
substitute. * /The teacher was sick and Miss Jones filled in for her./

   [fill (in) the  gap]  {v.  phr.}  To  supply  a  missing  piece  of
information; provide a clue during the course of solving a mystery.  *
/Sherlock Holmes said, "These fingerprints are bound to fill  the  gap
in our investigation."/

   [fill one's shoes] {v. phr.} To take the place of another and do as
well; to substitute satisfactorily for. * /When  Jack  got  hurt,  the
coach had nobody to fill his shoes./ * /Joe hopes to fill his father's
shoes./ See: IN ONE'S SHOES.

   [fill out] {v.} 1. To put in what  is  missing;  complete;  finish;
{especially}, to complete (a printed application blank or other  form)
by writing the missing facts in the blank spaces; to write down  facts
which are asked for in (a report or application.) * /After Tom  passed
his driving test  he  filled  out  an  application  for  his  driver's
license./ * /The policeman filled out a report of the accident./ 2. To
become heavier and fatter; gain weight. * /When Bill was  nineteen  he
began to fill out./ * /The girl was pale and thin after her  sickness,
but in a few months she filled out./

   [fill the bases] See: LOAD THE BASES.

   [fill the bill] {v. phr.}, {informal} To be just what is needed; be
good enough for something; be just right.  *  /The  boss  was  worried
about hiring a deaf boy, but after he tried Tom out for a  few  weeks,
he said that Tom filled the bill./ * /I thought I would need a special
tool, but this wrench fills the bill./

   [fill up] or [fill it up] or  [fill  her  up]  {v.  phr.}  To  fill
entirely. (Said by the driver of a car to a gas station attendant).  *
/When the attendant asked Andrew how much gas he wanted in  the  tank,
Andrew replied, "Fill her up."/

   [filthy lucre] {n.}, {informal} Money, especially when  thought  of
as bad or shameful. * /When the rich gambler tried to make Sarah marry
him, she said, "Keep your filthy lucre -  I  shall  marry  the  man  I
love."/ - Sometimes used in a joking way. * /"Come and let's  get  rid
of some filthy lucre."/

   [filthy rich] {adj.  phr.}  Extremely  rich  but  without  cultural
refinement; nouveau riche. * /"The Murgatroyds are filthy  rich,"  Ted
complained. "They are rolling in money but they never learned  how  to
behave properly at a dinner table."/

   [finders keepers] or [finders keepers, losers  weepers]  {informal}
Those who find lost things can keep them. - Used usually  by  children
to claim the right to keep something they have found. * /I don't  have
to give it back; it's finders keepers./  *  /Finders  keepers,  losers
weepers! It's my knife now!/

   [find  fault]  {v.  phr.}  To  find  something   wrong;   complain;
criticize. * /She tries to please him, but he always finds  fault./  *
/They found fault with every box  I  made./  Compare:  JUMP  ON,  PICK
AT(3).

   [find it in one's heart] {v. phr.} To be able or willing because of
your nature. * /He could not find it in his heart to  tell  her  about
her mother's death./ * /Can you find it in your heart to forgive  me?/
* /He could never find it in his heart to be mean to a dog./

   [find one's ---] {v. phr.} To become able to use (some power of the
body or mind.) * /In the program for the parents, John was nervous and
could not speak at first; then he found his tongue./ * /The young bird
had just found its wings./ * /The baby was just beginning to find  his
feet./ * /The question surprised him, and it was a  minute  before  he
found his tongue./

   [find oneself] {v. phr.} To find out what one  is  fitted  for  and
succeed in that. * /Mary tried several lines  of  work,  but  at  last
found herself as a teacher./ * /Sometimes young people move  around  a
long time from job to job before they find themselves./

   [find] or [get one's bearings] {v. phr.} To know where  one  is  or
where one is headed. * /"Without a compass," the sergeant  warned  the
enlisted men, "you will never find your bearings in the desert."/

   [find out] {v.} 1. To learn or discover (something you did not know
before.) * /One morning the baby found out for the first time that she
could walk./ * /I don't know how this car works, but  I'll  soon  find
out./ * /He watched the birds to find out where they go./ * /Mary  was
angry when Jane found out her secret./ 2. To get facts; to  get  facts
about. * /He wrote to find out about a job in Alaska./  *  /She  found
out how much the house would cost./ 3.  To  discover  (someone)  doing
wrong; catch. * /Some children are bad when no one is  watching  them,
but they are usually found out./ * /The boy knew that if he cheated on
the test the teacher would find him out./

   [find out the hard way] See: HARD WAY.

   [fine feathers do not make fine  birds]  {literary}  A  person  who
wears fine clothes may not be as good as he  looks.  -  A  proverb.  *
/Mary is pretty and she wears pretty clothes, but she  is  very  mean.
Fine feathers do  not  make  fine  birds./  Compare:  HANDSOME  IS  AS
HANDSOME DOES.

   [fine kettle of fish] See: KETTLE OF FISH.

   [fine-tooth comb] {n. phr.} Great care; careful attention so as not
to miss anything. * /The police searched the scene of the crime with a
fine-tooth comb for clues./ * /My room is so clean you  couldn't  find
dirt if you went over it with a fine-tooth comb./  Compare:  LEAVE  NO
STONE UNTURNED.

   [finger] See: BURN ONE'S FINGERS, CROSS ONE'S FINGERS or KEEP ONE'S
FINGERS CROSSED, LAY A FINGER ON, LIFT A FINGER, PUT ONE'S  FINGER  ON
also LAY ONE'S FINGER ON,  SLIP  THROUGH  ONE'S  FINGERS,  SNAP  ONE'S
FINGERS AT, STICKY FINGERS, TWIST AROUND  ONE'S  LITTLE  FINGER,  WORK
ONE'S FINGERS TO THE BONE.

   [finger in the pie] {n. phr.}, {informal} Something to do with what
happens; part interest or responsibility. * /When the girls got  up  a
Christmas party, I felt sure Alice had a finger in the  pie./  *  /The
Jones Company was chosen to build the new hospital  and  we  knew  Mr.
Smith had a finger in the pie./ * /Jack is a  boy  with  a  finger  in
every pie at school, from dramatics to football./ Compare: HAVE A HAND
IN, TOO MANY IRONS IN THE FIRE.

   [fingertip] See: AT ONE'S FINGERTIPS.

   [finish up] See: END UP(4).

   [fire] See: BALL OF FIRE, BETWEEN THE DEVIL AND THE DEEP  BLUE  SEA
or BETWEEN TWO FIRES, BUILD A FIRE UNDER, BURNT CHILD DREADS THE FIRE,
CATCH FIRE, DRAW FIRE, FAT'S IN THE FIRE, FIGHT FIRE WITH  FIRE,  HANG
FIRE, HEAP COALS OF FIRE ON ONE'S HEAD, HOLD ONE'S FIRE or HOLD  FIRE,
IRON IN THE FIRE, KEEP THE HOME FIRES BURNING, LINE OF FIRE, ON  FIRE,
OPEN FIRE, OUT OF THE FRYING PAN INTO THE FIRE, PLAY WITH  FIRE,  PULL
ONE'S CHESTNUTS OUT OF THE FIRE, SET FIRE TO, SET THE WORLD  ON  FIRE,
TILL THE LAST GUN IS FIRED or UNTIL THE LAST GUN IS FIRED, UNDER FIRE.

   [firebug]  {n.}  An  arsonist;  one  who  willfully  sets  fire  to
property. * /The police caught the firebug just as he was about to set
another barn ablaze in the country./

   [firing squad] {n.} A group of soldiers chosen to shoot a  prisoner
to death or to fire shots over a grave as a  tribute.  *  /A  dictator
often sends his enemies before a firing squad./ *  /The  dead  general
was honored by a firing squad./

   [first] See: AT FIRST BLUSH, AT FIRST SIGHT, CAST THE FIRST  STONE,
GET TO FIRST BASE or REACH FIRST BASE, IN  THE  FIRST  PLACE,  OF  THE
FIRST WATER.

   [firsthand] {adj.} Fresh; genuine;  from  the  original  source.  *
/John says  he  got  the  information  firsthand  from  the  president
himself./

   [first and foremost] {adv.  phr.}  As  the  most  important  thing;
first. * /First and foremost they needed  food./  *  /I  want  you  to
remember to pay that bill first and foremost./ * /First and  foremost,
we must keep America free./

   [first and  last]  {adv.  phr.}  Most  noticeably;  all  the  time;
chiefly. * /He was first and last a school teacher./ * /Steven  joined
the army because first and last he wanted to help his country./  Syn.:
ABOVE ALL.

   [first base] {n. phr.} 1. The base that must be touched first by  a
baseball player after batting. * /He got to first base on four balls./
2. See: GET TO FIRST BASE.

   [first class] {n.} 1. The first rank; the highest class;  the  best
group. * /The pianist was quite good but  he  was  not  in  the  first
class./ 2. The most expensive or comfortable class of travel; the best
or one of the best groups in which  to  travel,  especially  by  ship,
train, or airplane. * /Most people can't afford the first  class  when
they take a long journey by ship./ 3. The way of sending all mail that
includes  letters  and  post  cards,  anything  written  by  hand   or
typewriter, and anything sealed so that it cannot  be  inspected,  and
that is the most  expensive  class  of  mail  but  receives  the  best
treatment. * /The usual way to send  a  letter  is  by  first  class./
Compare: SECOND CLASS, THIRD CLASS.

   [first-class(1)] {adj.} 1. Of  the  highest  class  or  best  kind;
excellent; first-rate. * /Jane did a first-class job of repairing  the
coat./ * /It was a first-class TV program./ Compare: TOP-NOTCH. 2.  Of
the best or most expensive class of travelling. * /Mr. Jones bought  a
first-class plane ticket to Chicago./ 3. Belonging  to  the  class  of
mail for sending letters, post cards, and handwritten  or  typewritten
mail that is sealed. * /It is expensive to  send  a  heavy  letter  by
first-class mail./

   [first-class(2)] {adv.} With the best material; in the best or most
expensive way. * /When Mr. Van Smith goes anywhere he  always  travels
first-class./ * /"How did you send the package?" "First-class."/

   [first come, first served] {truncated  sent.},  {informal}  If  you
arrive first, you will be served first; people will be  waited  on  in
the order they come; the person who comes first  will  have  his  turn
first. * /Get in line for your ice  cream,  boys.  First  come,  first
served./ * /The rule in the restaurant is first come, first served./ *
/The team's owners announced that tickets for the World  Series  would
be sold on a first come, first served basis only./ * /There are only a
few seats left so it's first come, first served./ Compare: EARLY  BIRD
CATCHES THE WORM.

   [first cousin] {n.} The child of your aunt or uncle. * /Tom's  only
first cousin was Ralph, the son of his Uncle John./

   [first of all] {adv. phr.} Chiefly; primarily; as the first  thing.
* /After we get to Chicago, we will, first  of  all,  try  to  find  a
reliable used car./

   [first off] {adv. phr.}, {informal} Before anything else; first.  *
/First off, I want you to mow the lawn./

   [first-run] {adj. phr.} Shown for the first time; new. * /The local
theater showed only first-run movies./

   [first stone] See: CAST THE FIRST STONE.

   [first string(1)] {n.}, {informal} 1. The best group of players  on
a team; first team; A team. * /Dick  loved  basketball  and  practiced
hard until he was put on the first  string./  2.  The  best  group  of
workers. * /Tom learned his trade so well that his  boss  soon  called
him one of his first string./

   [first-string] {adj.}, {informal} 1. On  the  starting  team  or  A
team. * /He was the first-string quarterback./ 2. Of the best quality;
foremost. * /He was the least expensive  of  the  city's  first-string
lawyers./

   [first thing off the bat] {adv. phr.} Immediately; at once.  *  /He
called home from Paris first thing off the bat as he stepped  off  the
plane./

   [first  things  first]  Other  things  must  wait  until  the  most
important and necessary things are done. * /Study your lessons  before
you go out to play. First things first./

   [fish] See: COLD FISH, KETTLE OF FISH, NEITHER FISH NOR  FOWL,  NOT
THE ONLY FISH IN THE SEA, OTHER FISH TO FRY.

   [fish-and-chips] {n. phr.} Fried fish and french fried potatoes.  *
/The family went to a drive-in restaurant and had fish-and-chips./

   [fish  for]  {v.},  {informal}  To  try  to  get  or  to  find  out
(something), by hinting or by a roundabout way to try to lead  someone
else to give or tell you what you want by hinting. * /Jerry was always
fishing for an invitation to Bob's house./ * /Near  examination  time,
some of the students fish for information./

   [fish for a compliment] {v, phr.} To try  to  make  someone  pay  a
compliment. * /When Jim showed me his new car, I could  tell  that  he
was fishing for a compliment./

   [fish fry] {n.} An outdoor party or picnic at which fish are  fried
and eaten. * /The guests at the fish fry caught and cooked  their  own
fish./

   [fish in muddy] or [troubled waters] {v. phr.} To take advantage of
a troubled or confusing situation; seek personal  advantage.  *  /With
the police disorganized after the collapse  of  communism  in  Europe,
many criminals started to fish in troubled waters./

   [fish or cut bait] {v. phr.}, {informal} 1. Decide what you want to
do and stop wasting time; either act now or give someone else a chance
or turn. * /Jack couldn't decide whether to go to  college  or  get  a
job, so his father told him to fish or cut bait./ * /"Buy the kind  of
ice cream you want or give someone else in line a chance. Fish or  cut
bait!"/ Compare: MAKE UP ONE'S MIND. 2. Either try hard  and  do  your
best, or quit. * /Frank missed football practice  so  often  that  the
coach told him to fish or cut bait./

   [fish out of water] {n. phr.} A person who is  out  of  his  proper
place in life; someone who does not fit in. * /Because  Ed  could  not
swim, he felt like a fish out of water at the beach./ * /She  was  the
only girl at the party not in a formal dress and she felt like a  fish
out of water./ Compare: OUT OF ONE'S ELEMENT, OUT OF PLACE.

   [fish story] {n. phr.} An unlikely or improbable tale.  *  /Hunters
and  fishermen  often  exaggerate  their  successes  by  telling  fish
stories./

   [fist] See: HARD-FISTED.

   [fit] See: BY FITS AND STARTS, GIVE PITS, HAVE A FIT or HAVE  FITS,
IF THE SHOE FITS, WEAR IT, SEE FIT also THINK  FIT,  SURVIVAL  OF  THE
FITTEST.

   [fit as a fiddle] {adj. phr.} In very good health. * /The  man  was
almost 90 years old but fit as a fiddle./ * /Mary rested at home for a
few weeks after her operation; then she felt fit as a fiddle./

   [fit for] {v. phr.} To be suited for; be  prepared  for.  *  /"What
kind of job is Ted fit for?" the social worker asked./

   [fit in with] {v. phr.} To fall into agreement or  accord  with.  *
/His plans to take a vacation in early July fit in perfectly with  the
university schedule./

   [fit like a glove] {v. phr.} To fit perfectly.  *  /Her  new  dress
fits her like a glove./

   [fit out] or [fit up] {v.} To give things needed; furnish.  *  /The
soldiers were fitted out with guns and clothing./  *  /The  government
fitted out warships and got sailors for them./ * /The house was fitted
out very  nicely./  *  /He  fitted  his  room  up  as  a  photographic
laboratory./

   [fit the bill] See: FILL THE BILL.

   [fit to a T] See: TO A T.

   [fit to be tied(1)] {adj. phr.}, {informal} Very angry or upset.  *
/She was fit to be tied when she saw the broken glass./

   [fit to be tied(2)] {adv. phr.}, {substandard} Very  hard.  -  Used
for emphasis. * /Uncle Willie was laughing  fit  to  be  tied  at  the
surprised look on Mother's face./

   [five o'clock shadow] {n. phr.} A very short growth of beard  on  a
man's face who did shave in the morning but whose beard is  so  strong
that it is again visible in the afternoon. * /"You have a five o'clock
shadow, honey," Irene said, "and we're going to the opera.  Why  don't
you shave again quickly?"/

   [fix] See: GET A FIX or GIVE SOMEONE A FIX, GET A FIX ON.

   [fix someone's wagon] or  [fix  someone's  little  red  wagon]  {v.
phr.}, {informal} 1. (Said to a child as a  threat)  to  administer  a
spanking. * /Stop that right  away  or  I'll  fix  your  (little  red)
wagon!/ 2. (Said of an adult)  to  thwart  or  frustrate  another,  to
engineer his failure. * /If he sues me for slander, I will counter-sue
him for malicious prosecution. That will fix his wagon!/

   [fix someone up with] {v. phr.}, {informal} To help another  get  a
date with a woman or man by arranging a meeting for the  two.  *  /Say
Joe, can you possibly fix me up with someone this  weekend?  I  am  so
terribly lonesome!/

   [fix up] {v. phr.} 1. To repair. * /The school is  having  the  old
gym fixed up./ 2. To arrange. * /I think I can  fix  it  up  with  the
company so that John gets the transfer he desires. /3.  To  arrange  a
date that might lead to a romance or even to marriage. *  /Mary  is  a
great matchmaker; she fixed up Ron and Betty at her recent party./

   [fizzle out] {v.}, {informal} 1. To stop burning; die out.  *  /The
fuse fizzled out before exploding the firecracker./ 2. To fail after a
good start; end in failure. * /The power mower worked fine for a while
but then it fizzled out./ * /The party fizzled out when everyone  went
home early./

   [flag down] {v.}, {informal} To stop by waving a signal flag or  as
if waving a signal flag. * /The signalman  flagged  down  the  freight
train./ * /A policeman flagged down the car with his flashlight./

   [flakeball] or [flake] {n.}, {slang}, {drug culture} A  disjointed,
or "flaky" person, who is forgetful and incoherent, as  if  under  the
influence of narcotics. * /Hermione is a regular flakeball./  Compare:
SPACED OUT.

   [flame] See: ADD FUEL TO THE FLAME, GO UP IN FLAMES.

   [flanker back] {n.} A football back who can play far to the outside
of his regular place. * /The coach is still looking for a  speedy  boy
to play flanker back./

   [flare up] {v.} 1. To burn brightly for  a  short  time  especially
after having died down. * /The fire flared up again and then died./ 2.
To become suddenly angry. * /The mayor flared  up  at  the  reporter's
remark./ * /The mother flared up at her children./ 3. To  begin  again
suddenly, especially for a short time  after  a  quiet  time.  *  /Mr.
Gray's  arthritis  flared  up  sometimes./  *  /Even  after  they  had
conquered the country, revolts sometimes flared up./

   [flare-up] {n.} The  reoccurrence  of  an  infection  or  an  armed
conflict. * /He had a flare-up of his arthritis./ * /There was  a  bad
flare-up of hostilities in some countries./

   [flash] See: IN A FLASH.

   [flash card] {n.} A card with numbers or words on it that  is  used
in teaching, a class. * /The teacher used flash  cards  to  drill  the
class in addition./

   [flash in the pan] {n. phr.}, {slang} A person or thing that starts
out well but does not continue. * /The new quarterback was a flash  in
the pan./ * /Mary got 100 on the first test in arithmetic but  it  was
just a flash in the pan because she failed in arithmetic./

   [flat] See: FALL FLAT, IN NO TIME or IN NOTHING FLAT, LEAVE FLAT.

   [flat as a pancake] {adj. phr.} Very level; very  flat;  having  no
mountains or hills. * /A great part of the American Midwest is as flat
as a pancake./

   [flat broke] See: STONE-BROKE.

   [flatfoot] {n.}, {slang}, {derogatory} A policeman. *  /"What  does
Joe do for a living? - He's a flatfoot."/

   [flat-footed] {adj.}, {informal}  1.  Straightforward;  forthright;
direct; outright. * /The governor issued a flat-footed denial  of  the
accusation./ * /He came out flat-footed  against  the  idea./  2.  Not
ready; not prepared; - usually used with  "catch".  *  /The  teacher's
question caught Tim flat-footed./ * /Unexpected company at lunch  time
caught Mrs. Green flat-footed./

   [flat-out] {adv. phr.},  {informal}  1.  Without  hiding  anything;
plainly; openly. * /The student told his teacher flat-out that he  was
not listening to her./ 2. At top speed; as fast as possible. * /He saw
two men running flat-out from the wild rhinoceros./

   [flatter oneself] To be sure of your own talent  or  skill;  highly
confident. * /I flatter myself that I am a better swimmer than he is./

   [flea in one's ear] {n. phr.}, {informal} An idea or answer that is
not welcome; an annoying or surprisingly sharp reply or hint. *  /I'll
put a flea in his ear if he bothers me once more./

   [flea market] {n. phr.} A place where antiques, second-hand things,
and cheap articles are sold, and especially one in  the  open  air.  *
/The local antique  dealers  held  a  flea  market  and  fair  on  the
high-school athletic field./ * /There are many outdoor flea markets in
Europe./

   [flesh] See: IN PERSON also IN THE FLESH,  NEITHER  FISH  NOR  FOWL
also NEITHER FISH, FLESH, NOR FOWL, PRESS  THE  FLESH,  THORN  IN  THE
FLESH.

   [flesh and blood] {n.} 1. A close relative (as a father,  daughter,
brother); close relatives. Used in the phrase  "one's  own  flesh  and
blood". * /Such an answer from her - and she's my own flesh and blood,
too!/ 2. The appearance of being real or alive. * /The author  doesn't
give his characters any flesh and blood./ 3. The human body. * /Before
child labor laws, small children often worked 50 or 60 hours a week in
factories. It was more than flesh and blood could bear./

   [flesh out] {v.}, {informal} 1. To add to; make fuller, bigger,  or
longer. * /The author fleshed out his story by adding more  about  his
war experiences./ 2. also [flesh up] To become heavier, put on weight,
or flesh. * /He lost weight after his  illness  but  is  beginning  to
flesh out again./ See: FILL OUT.

   [flesh up] See: FLESH OUT(2).

   [fling oneself at] See: THROW ONESELF AT.

   [fling oneself at someone's head] See: THROW ONESELF  AT  SOMEONE'S
HEAD.

   [flip-flop(1)] {v.}, {informal}  To  alternate  the  positions  of;
exchange the places of; switch. * /The football coach had one play  in
which he flip-flopped his left halfback and fullback./

   [flip-flop(2)] {n.}, {informal} A complete change;  a  switch  from
one thing to an entirely  different  one.  *  /John  wanted  to  be  a
carpenter like his father, but when he saw the print  shop  he  did  a
flip-flop and now he's learning printing./

   [flip-flop(3)] {adj. phr.}, {informal} Involving or using a  change
from one of two places, positions, or alternatives  to  the  other.  *
/The machine was controlled by a flip-flop switch./  *  /The  football
coach hoped to surprise his opponents by using a flip-flop offense./

   [flip one's lid] also [flip one's wig] {slang}  1.  To  lose  one's
temper. * /When that pushy salesman came back Mom really  flipped  her
lid./ Compare: BLOW A FUSE. 2. To lose your  mind;  become  insane.  *
/When he offered me three times the pay I was getting,  I  thought  he
had flipped his lid./ 3. To become unreasonably enthusiastic.  *  /She
flipped her lid over a hat she saw  in  the  store  window./  *  /He's
flipped his lid over that new actress./

   [flip out] {v. phr.}, {slang}, {informal} To go insane, to  go  out
of one's mind. * /A is impossible to talk to Joe today - he must  have
flipped out./

   [flock] See: BIRDS OF A FEATHER FLOCK TOGETHER.

   [floor] See: GROUND FLOOR, MOP THE FLOOR WITH, WALK THE FLOOR.

   [floor one] {v. phr.} To overwhelm;  astound;  nonplus.  *  /John's
sudden announcement that he would retire floored  all  of  us  in  the
office./

   [floorwalker] {n.} A section manager in a department store.  *  /To
exchange this pair of shoes, you  must  first  get  the  floorwalker's
approval./

   [flop] See: FLIP-FLOP.

   [flower child] {n.}, {slang}, {informal}  1.  A  young  person  who
believes in nonviolence and carries flowers around  to  symbolize  his
peace-loving nature. * /Flower children are supposed to be nonviolent,
but they sure make a lot of  noise  when  they  demonstrate!/  2.  Any
person who cannot cope with reality. * /"Face facts, Suzie, stop being
such a flower child!"/

   [flower power]  {n.},  {slang}  The  supposed  power  of  love  and
nonviolence as intended to be used by members of the  anti-culture  to
change American society. * /The young people were marching for  flower
power./

   [fluff one's lines] See: BLOW ONE'S LINES.

   [fluff stuff] {n.}, {slang}, {citizen's band radio jargon} Snow.  *
/We can expect some fluff stuff this afternoon./

   [flunk out] {v. phr.} To have to withdraw from  school  or  college
because of too many failing grades. * /Fred  flunked  out  of  college
during his junior year./

   [flush it] {v. phr.}, {slang} 1. To fail (something). *  /I  really
flushed it in my  math  course./  2.  {interj.},  {used  imperatively}
Expression registering refusal to believe something considered  stupid
or false. * /"You expect me to buy that story? Flush it!"/

   [fly] See: BIRD HAS FLOWN, GO FLY A KITE, MAKE  THE  FEATHERS  FLY,
MAKE THE FUR FLY, ON THE FLY, POP FLY, SACRIFICE FLY.

   [fly at one's throat] {v. phr.} To attack you suddenly  with  great
anger. * /When Tom called Dick a bad name, Dick flew at his throat./

   [fly ball] {n.} A baseball hit high into the air. * /He hit an easy
fly ball to center field./

   [fly blind] {v. phr.} 1. To fly an airplane by instruments alone. *
/In the heavy fog he had to fly blind./ 2. {informal} To do  something
without understanding what you are doing. * /I'm  glad  the  car  runs
now; I was flying blind when I fixed it./ * /He's flying blind when he
talks about philosophy./

   [fly-by-night(1)] {adj.} Set up to make a lot of money in a  hurry,
then disappear so people can't find you to complain about  poor  work,
etc.; not trustworthy; not reliable. * /Mrs. Blank bought  her  vacuum
cleaner from a new company; when she tried to have it fixed, she found
it was a fly-by-night business./

   [fly-by-night(2)] {n.}, {informal} 1. A  company  that  sells  many
cheap things for a big profit and then  disappears.  *  /A  dependable
company honors its guarantees, but  a  fly-by-night  only  wants  your
money./ 2. A person who does not pay his bills, but sneaks away (as at
night.) * /Hotels are bothered by fly-by-nights./

   [fly by the seat of one's pants]  {v.  phr.},  {slang}  To  fly  an
airplane by feel and  instinct  rather  than  with  the  help  of  the
instruments. * /Many pilots in World War I had to fly by the  seat  of
their pants./

   [flying] See: WITH FLYING COLORS.

   [flying high] {adj.}, {slang}  Very  happy;  joyful.  *  /Jack  was
flying high after his team won the game./ Compare: IN THE  CLOUDS,  ON
TOP OP THE WORLD.

   [flying start] See: GET OFF TO A FLYING START.

   [flying tackle] {n.}, {informal} A tackle made by  jumping  through
the air at the person to be tackled. * /Most  football  coaches  don't
want their players to make flying tackles./ * /The  policeman  stopped
the burglar with a flying tackle./

   [flying wedge]  {n.},  {informal}  1.  An  offensive  formation  in
football in which players link arms and line up to form a "V" with the
ball carrier in the middle. * /The flying wedge was so  dangerous  and
hurt so many players that rules have forbidden it for over 50  years./
2. A group (as of guards or policemen) who use a "V" formation to help
someone get through a crowd. * /Police had to form a flying  wedge  to
get the movie star through the crowd of autograph hunters./

   [fly in the face of] or [fly in the teeth of] {v. phr.} To  ignore;
go against; show disrespect or disregard for. * /You can't fly in  the
face of good business rules and expect to he successful./  *  /Floyd's
friends tried to help him, but he flew in the teeth  of  their  advice
and soon became a drunkard./

   [fly in the ointment] {n. phr.}, {informal} An unpleasant part of a
pleasant thing; something small that spoils your fun. * /We had a  lot
of fun at the beach; the only fly in the ointment was George's cutting
his foot on a piece of glass./ * /Your new job sounds too good  to  be
true - interesting work, high pay, short hours. Isn't there any fly in
the ointment?/

   [fly off the handle] {v. phr.}, {informal} To become very angry.  *
/John flew off the handle  whenever  Mary  made  a  mistake./  *  /The
children's noise made the man next door fly  off  the  handle./  Syn.:
LOSE ONE'S TEMPER.

   [fly the coop] {v. phr.}, {slang} To leave suddenly  and  secretly;
run away. * /The robbers flew the coop before the police  arrived./  *
/His partner flew the coop with all the money./

   [flying visit] {n. phr.} A visit of very  short  duration.  *  /Tom
came to New York for only a flying visit. We had  hardly  eaten  lunch
when he had to leave./

   [flying saucer] See: U.F.O.

   [fly into a rage] or [temper] {v. phr.} To become very angry. * /By
the time we mention the name of  her  ex-husband,  she  flies  into  a
rage./

   [foam at the mouth] {v. phr.}, {slang} To be very angry, like a mad
dog. * /By the time Uncle Henry had the third flat tire he was  really
foaming at the mouth./

   [fob off] {v.}, {informal} 1. To get something  false  accepted  as
good or real. * /The peddler fobbed off pieces of glass as  diamonds./
Syn.: PALM OFF, PASS OFF. 2. To put aside; not really answer  but  get
rid of. * /Her little brother asked  where  she  was  going,  but  she
fobbed him off with ah excuse./

   [fog] See: IN A FOG.

   [foggy bottom] {n.}, {slang} An area in downtown  Washington,  D.C.
where many offices of the  Department  of  State  are  located;  hence
figuratively, the U.S. Department of State.  *  /The  press  secretary
gave us a lot of foggy bottom double-talk about the hostage crisis  in
the Near East./

   [fold up] {v.}, {informal} To collapse; fail. * /The team folded up
in the last part of the season./ * /The new restaurant  folded  up  in
less than a year./ Compare: FALL APART.

   [folk] See: WEE FOLK.

   [follow] See: AS FOLLOWS.

   [follower] See: CAMP FOLLOWER.

   [follow in one's footsteps] also [follow in one's tracks] {v. phr.}
To follow someone's example; follow someone exactly, * /He followed in
his father's footsteps and became a  doctor./  Compare:  LIKE  FATHER,
LIKE SON.

   [follow one's heart] {v. phr.} To do what one wishes to  do  rather
than to follow  the  voice  of  reason.  *  /Instead  of  accepting  a
lucrative job in his father's business, Jim  followed  his  heart  and
became a missionary in the jungle./

   [follow one's nose] {v. phr.}, {informal} 1. To go straight  ahead;
continue in the same direction. * /Just follow your  nose  and  you'll
get there./ 2. To go any way you happen to think of. *  /Oh,  I  don't
know just where I want to go. I'll just follow my nose  and  see  what
happens./

   [follow out] {v. phr.}, {informal} 1. To do fully; finish (what you
are told to do.) * /The boy followed out the instructions and  made  a
fine model plane./ Compare: FOLLOW THROUGH.  2.  To  keep  working  at
(something) until it is  finished;  give  (something)  your  attention
until it comes to an end or conclusion. * /The  student  followed  out
all the index references in the encyclopedia until he  found  what  he
wanted to know./ Compare: FOLLOW UP.

   [follow suit] {v. phr.} 1. To play a card of  the  same  color  and
kind that another player has put down. * /When diamonds  were  led,  I
had to follow suit./ 2.  To  do  as  someone  else  has  done;  follow
someone's example. * /When the others went swimming, I followed suit./

   [follow through] {v. phr.} 1. To finish a movement  that  you  have
started; continue an action to  its  natural  ending.  *  /A  football
passer should follow through after he throws the ball./ 2.  To  finish
an action that you have started. * /Bob drew plans for a table for his
mother, but he did not follow through by making it./

   [follow up] {v. phr.}, {informal} 1. To chase or follow closely and
without giving up. * /The Indians  followed  up  the  wounded  buffalo
until it fell dead./ 2. Make (one action)  more  successful  by  doing
something more. * /After Mary sent a letter to apply for  a  job,  she
followed it up by going to talk to  the  personnel  manager./  *  /The
doctor  followed  up  Billy's  operation  with  x-rays,  and   special
exercises to make his foot  stronger./  Compare:  FOLLOW  OUT,  FOLLOW
THROUGH(2). 3a. To hunt  for  (more  news  about  something  that  has
already been in the newspapers, radio or TV news); find more about.  *
/The day after news of the fire at Brown's store, the newspaper sent a
reporter to follow up Mr. Brown's  future  plans./  3b.  To  print  or
broadcast (more news about some happening that has been  in  the  news
before). * /The fire story was printed  Monday,  and  Tuesday's  paper
followed it up by saying that Mr. Brown planned to build a bigger  and
better store at the same place./

   [follow-up] {n.} Additional work or research by means of  which  an
earlier undertaking's chances of success  are  increased.  *  /I  hope
you'll be willing to do a bit of follow-up./

   [fond of] Having a liking for; attracted to  by  strong  liking.  *
/Alan is fond of candy./ * /Uncle Bill was  the  children's  favorite,
and he was fond of them too./

   [food for thought] {n. phr.} Something  to  think  about  or  worth
thinking about; something that makes you think. *  /The  teacher  told
John that she wanted to talk to his father, and that  gave  John  food
for thought./ * /There is much food for thought in this book./

   [fool] See: CHILDREN AND FOOLS SPEAK THE TRUTH, MAKE A FOOL OF.

   [fool and his money are soon parted] A foolish person  soon  wastes
his money. - A proverb, * /Jimmy spends all his pennies for  candy.  A
fool and his money are soon parted./

   [fool around] or [mess around] or [play around] or [monkey  around]
{v.}, {informal} 1. To spend time playing, fooling, or joking  instead
of being serious or working; waste time. * /If you go to college,  you
must work, not fool around./ * /The boys fooled around  all  afternoon
in the park./ Compare: CUT UP(2). To treat  or  handle  carelessly.  *
/Bob cut himself by fooling around with a sharp knife./ * /Suzie  says
she wishes John would quit playing  around  with  the  girls  and  get
married./ 3. or  [fiddle  around]  To  work  or  do  something  in  an
irregular or unplanned way; tinker. * /Jimmy likes  to  monkey  around
with automobile engines./ * /Alice is fooling around with the piano in
her spare time./ Compare: FUCK AROUND.

   [fool around] See: MESS AROUND.

   [fool away] or [fritter away] {v.}, {informal} To waste  foolishly.
* /Paul failed history because he fooled  away  his  time  instead  of
studying./ * /The man won a lot of money, but  he  soon  frittered  it
away and was poor again./

   [foolish] See: PENNY WISE AND POUND FOOLISH.

   [foolproof] {adj.} So constructed that not even a  fool  can  spoil
it; easy. * /This entrance examination is so easy that it is  actually
foolproof./

   [fool's paradise] See: LIVE IN A FOOL'S PARADISE.

   [foot] See: AT ONE'S FEET, COLD FEET,  DEAD  ON  ONE'S  FEET,  DRAG
ONE'S FEET, FROM HEAD TO FOOT, GET OFF ON THE WRONG  FOOT,  GET  ONE'S
FEET WET, HAND AND FOOT, KEEP ONE'S FEET, KNOCK OFF ONE'S  FEET,  LAND
ON ONE'S FEET, LET GRASS GROW UNDER ONE'S FEET, ONE FOOT IN THE GRAVE,
ON FOOT, ON ONE'S FEET, PLAY FOOTSIE, PUT ONE'S BEST FOOT FORWARD, PUT
ONE'S FOOT DOWN, PUT ONE'S FOOT IN IT, SET FOOT,  SHOE  ON  THE  OTHER
FOOT, STAND ON ONE'S OWN FEET, SWEEP OFF ONE'S FEET,  THINK  ON  ONE'S
FEET, THROW ONESELF AT SOMEONE'S FEET.

   [footed] See: FLAT FOOTED.

   [foot in the door] {n. phr.},  {informal}  The  first  step  toward
getting or doing something; a start toward success; opening. *  /Don't
let Jane get her foot in the door by joining the club or  soon  she'll
want to be president./

   [footstep] See: FOLLOW IN ONE'S FOOTSTEPS.

   [foot the bill] {v.  phr.}  To  cover  the  expenses  of;  pay  for
something. * /The bride's father footed two-thirds of the bill for hix
daughter's wedding./ Compare: PICK UP THE TAB.

   [footloose and fancy-free] {adj. phr.} Free and free to do what one
wants (said of unmarried men). * /Ron is a merry bachelor and seems to
enjoy greatly being footloose and fancy-free./

   [for a fall] See: RIDING FOR A FALL.

   [for all] 1. In spite of; even with, despite. - Used for  contrast.
* /For all his city ways, he is a country boy at heart./ * /There  may
be mistakes occasionally, but for all that, it is the best book on the
subject./ * /For all his money, he was very  unhappy./  2.  also  [for
aught] To the extent that. - Used like  a  negative  with  "care"  and
"know". * /For all I care, you can throw  it  away./  *  /For  all  he
knows, we might be in Boston./ Compare: AS FAR  AS(2),  ONCE  AND  FOR
ALL.

   [for all one cares] {adv. phr.} In the opinion of one  who  is  not
involved or who does not care what happens. *  /For  all  Jane  cares,
poor Tom might as well drop dead./

   [for all one is worth] With all of your strength; as  hard  as  you
can. * /Roger ran for all he was worth to catch the bus./

   [for all one knows] {adv. phr.} According to  the  information  one
has; probably. * /For all we know, Ron and Beth might have eloped  and
been married in a French chateau./

   [for all that] {adv. phr.} In spite of what has been said, alleged,
or rumored. * /Well, for all that, we think that she is still the most
deserving candidate for Congress./

   [for all the world] {adv. phr.} 1. Under no circumstances. * /Betty
said she wouldn't  marry  Jake  for  all  the  world./  2.  Precisely;
exactly. * /It began for all the  world  like  a  successful  baseball
season for the UIC  Flames,  when  suddenly  they  lost  to  the  Blue
Demons./

   [for a loop] See: KNOCK FOR A LOOP or THROW FOR A LOOP.

   [for a loss] See: THROW FOR A LOSS.

   [for a ride] See: TAKE FOR A RIDE.

   [for as much as] {conj.}, {formal} Because; since. * /For  as  much
as the senator is eighty years old, we feel  he  should  not  run  for
reelection./ Syn.: INASMUCH AS.

   [for a song] {adv. phr.}, {informal} At a low price; for a  bargain
price; cheaply. * /He sold the invention for a  song  and  its  buyers
were the ones who got rich./ * /They bought the house for a  song  and
sold it a few years later at a good profit./

   [for aught] See: FOR ALL(2).

   [for bear] See: LOADED FOR BEAR.

   [for better or worse] or [for better or for worse] {adv.  phr.}  1.
With good or bad effect, depending on how one looks at the  matter.  *
/The historian did justice, for better or worse,  to  the  careers  of
several famous men./ 2. Under  any  eventuality;  forever;  always.  *
/Alex and Masha decided to leave  Moscow  and  come  to  Chicago,  for
better or for worse./ 3. (Marriage vows) Forever, for as long  as  one
may live. * /With this ring I thee  wed,  for  richer  or  poorer,  in
sickness and in health, for better or worse, til death do us part./

   [forbid] See: GOD FORBID.

   [for broke] See: GO FOR BROKE.

   [force] See: IN FORCE, JOIN FORCES.

   [force one's hand] {v. phr.} To make you do something or tell  what
you will do sooner than planned. * /Ben did not want to tell where  he
was going, but his friend forced his hand./ * /Mr.  Smith  planned  to
keep his land until prices went up, but he had so  many  doctor  bills
that it forced his hand./

   [force play] or [force-out] {n.} A play  in  baseball  in  which  a
runner is out because he does not run to  the  next  base  before  the
fielder with the ball touches the base. * /Bob was out at second  base
when Joe hit into a force play./

   [for certain] See: FOR SURE.

   [for crying out loud] {informal} Used as  an  exclamation  to  show
that you feel surprised or cross. * /For crying out loud,  look  who's
here!/ * /For crying out loud, that's the third time  you've  done  it
wrong./ Compare: FOR ONE'S SAKE.

   [for days on end] {adv. phr.} For a long time;  for  many  days.  *
/The American tourists tried to get used to Scottish pronunciation for
days on end,  but  still  couldn't  understand  what  the  Scots  were
saying./

   [for dear life] {adv. phr.} As though afraid of losing your life. *
/He was running for dear life toward town./ * /When the horse began to
run, she held on for dear life./

   [fore] See: TO THE FORE.

   [foremost] See: FIRST AND FOREMOST.

   [forest] See: CAN'T SEE THE WOOD FOR THE TREES  or  CAN'T  SEE  THE
FOREST FOR THE TREES.

   [forever and a day] {adv. phr.}, {informal} For a seemingly endless
time; forever; always. Used for emphasis. * /We waited forever  and  a
day to find out who won the  contest./  *  /They  promised  to  remain
friends forever and a day./

   [forever  and  ever]  {adv.  phr.}  Forever;  always.  -  Used  for
emphasis, usually about spiritual things. * /God will live forever and
ever./

   [for example] or [for instance]  {adv.  phr.}  As  an  example;  as
proof; to give an example or illustration. * /Not only rich men become
President. For example, Lincoln was born poor./ * /There are jobs more
dangerous than truck driving; for instance, training lions./  Compare:
FOR ONE THING.

   [for fear] Because of fear. * /He left an hour early  for  fear  of
missing his train./ * /She worried for fear that the  child  would  be
hurt./

   [for fear of] {adv. phr.} Because of being afraid of something;  on
account of being scared. * /Dave refuses to go to Europe for  fear  of
an airplane crash and for fear of a shipwreck./

   [for free] {adj. phr.}, {substandard} Without having to pay;  free.
* /Hey you guys, look at this balloon! They're for free  down  at  the
new store./

   [for fun] {prep. phr.} As amusement, not seriously, as  a  joke.  *
/Let's try to play Beethoven's Emperor Concerto together, you  on  one
piano, and I on another one./ Compare: IN FUN.

   [forget] See: FORGIVE AND FORGET.

   [forget  oneself]  {v.  phr.}  To  do  something  one  should  have
remembered not to do; do something below one's usual conduct  although
one knows better; let one's self-control slip. *  /He  forgot  himself
only once at dinner - when he belched./ * /He knew he should hold  his
temper, but because of the trouble he  forgot  himself  and  began  to
shout./

   [forgive and forget] {v.}  To  have  no  bad  feelings  about  what
happened in the past. *  /After  the  argument  the  boys  decided  to
forgive and forget./ Syn.: LET BYGONES BE BYGONES, LIVE AND LET LIVE.

   [for good] also  [for  good  and  all]  Permanently,  forever,  for
always. * /The lost money was gone for good./ *  /He  hoped  that  the
repairs would stop the leak for good./ *  /When  John  graduated  from
school, he decided that he was done with  study  for  good  and  all./
Syn.: FOR KEEPS(2).

   [for good measure] {adv. phr.} As something more added to  what  is
expected or needed; as an extra. * /He sold me  the  car  at  a  cheap
price and included the radio for good measure./ *  /She  puts  in  the
spices the recipe calls for and then adds  an  extra  pinch  for  good
measure./ Compare: IN THE BARGAIN, TO BOOT.

   [for granted] See: TAKE FOR GRANTED.

   [for Heaven's sake!] {adv. phr.} Please. * /"Help me, for  Heaven's
sake!" the injured man cried./

   [for hours on end] {adv. phr.} For many  hours;  for  a  very  long
time. * /We have been trying to get this computer going for  hours  on
end, but we need serious professional help./

   [for instance] See: FOR EXAMPLE.

   [for it] See: RUN FOR IT.

   [for keeps] {adv. phr.} 1. For the winner to keep. *  /They  played
marbles for keeps./ 2. {informal} For always; forever, * /He left town
for keeps./ Syn.: FOR GOOD. 3. Seriously, not just for fun. * /This is
not a joke, it's for keeps./ - Often used  in  the  phrase  "play  for
keeps". * /The policeman knew that the robber was trying to shoot him.
He was playing for keeps./

   [forked tongue] See: SPEAK WITH A FORKED TONGUE.

   [fork over a lot of money] {v. phr.} To pay an excessive amount  of
money often unwillingly. * /"According to  my  divorce  decree,"  Alan
complained, "I have to fork over a lot of money to  my  ex-wife  every
month."/

   [fork over] or [fork out] also [fork up] {v.} To pay;  pay  out.  *
/He had to fork over fifty dollars to have the car repaired./ Compare:
HAND OVER.

   [for laughs] {adv. phr.} For pleasure; for fun; as a joke.  *  /The
college boys climbed up into the girls' dorms and stole some of  their
dresses just for laughs, but they were punished all the same./

   [for love or money] {adv. phr.} For anything; for any  price.  Used
in negative sentences. * /I wouldn't give  him  my  dog  for  love  or
money./ Compare: FOR ALL THE WORLD(1).

   [form] See: RAN TRUE TO FORM.

   [for no man] See: TIME AND TIDE WAIT FOR NO MAN.

   [for one] As  the  first  of  several  possible  examples;  as  one
example. * /Manv people do not like certain foods. I for  one  do  not
like cabbage./ - Also used with similar  words  instead  of  "one".  *
/Several materials can be used to make  the  box:  plywood,  for  one;
masonite, for another; sheet metal, for a third./

   [for one's money]  {prep.  phr.}  Regarding  one's  endorsement  or
support; as far as one  is  concerned.  *  /For  my  money,  the  best
candidate for Congress is Ms. Smith./

   [for one's part] also [on one's part] {adv. phr.} As far as you are
concerned; the way you feel or think. * /I don't know about  you,  but
for my part I don't want to go to that place./ Compare: AS FOR.

   [for one thing] {adv. phr.} As one thing of several; as  one  in  a
list of things. * /The teacher said, "You get  a  low  mark,  for  one
thing, because you did not do your homework."/ * /The house was poorly
built; for one thing, the roof leaked./ Compare: FOR EXAMPLE,  IN  THE
FIRST PLACE.

   [for  real(1)]  {adj.  phr.},  {informal}  Not  practice  or  play;
earnest, real, serious. * /The war games were over  now.  This  battle
was for real./

   [for real(2)] {adv. phr.}, {substandard} Not for practice;  really;
seriously. * /Let's do our work for real./

   [for one's  sake]  {adv.  phr.},  {informal}  Used  with  different
possessive nouns to show surprise, crossness, or  impatience.  *  /For
heaven's sake, where did you come from?/  *  /For  Pete's  sake,  look
who's here!/ * /Well, for pity's sake, I wish you'd told me sooner./ *
/Oh, for gosh sake, let me do it./

   [for shame] {interj.} Shame  on  you;  you  should  be  ashamed  of
yourself. - An exclamation  no  longer  in  common  use,  having  been
largely replaced by "shame on you". * /"For shame,  John,  taking  the
toy from your baby brother!"/

   [for short] {adv. phr.} So as to make shorter; as  an  abbreviation
or nickname. * /The boy's name was Humperdink, or "Dink" for short./ *
/The National Broadcasting Company is called NBC for short./

   [for  sure]  or  [for  certain]  {adv.  phr.}  1.  Without   doubt;
certainly; surely. * /He  couldn't  tell  for  sure  from  a  distance
whether it was George or Tom./ * /He didn't know for certain which bus
to take./ * /I know for  certain  that  he  has  a  car./  2.  {slang}
Certain. * /"That car is smashed so badly  it's  no  good  any  more."
"That's for sure!"/ Compare: SURE THING.

   [fort] See: HOLD THE FORT.

   [forth] See: AND SO FORTH, BACK AND FORTH, CALL FORTH, HOLD  FORTH,
SET FORTH.

   [for that matter] {adv. phr.} With regard to that; about that. * /I
don't know, and for that matter, I don't care./ * /Alice didn't  come,
and for that matter, she didn't even telephone./  Compare:  MATTER  OP
FACT,

   [for the asking] {adv. phr.}  By  asking;  by  asking  for  it;  on
request. * /John said I could borrow his bike any time.  It  was  mine
for the asking./ * /Teacher said her advice was free for the asking./

   [for the best] {adj.} or {adv. phr.}  good  or  best;  not  bad  as
thought; lucky; well, happily. * /Maybe it's for the  best  that  your
team lost; now you know how the other boys felt./  *  /John's  parents
thought it would be for the best if he stayed out of  school  for  the
rest of the year./ Often used in the phrase "turn out for the best". *
/You feel unhappy now because you got sick and couldn't go  with  your
friends, but it will all turn out for the best./ Compare: TURN OUT(6).
Contrast: FOR THE WORSE.

   [for the better] {adj.} or {adv. phr.} With a  better  result;  for
something that is better. * /The doctor felt that moving Father  to  a
dry climate would be for the better./ * /The new large  print  in  the
book is a change for the better./ Compare: TAKE A TURN. Contrast:  FOR
THE WORSE.

   [for the birds] {adj. phr.}, {slang} Not interesting; dull;  silly;
foolish; stupid. * /I think history is for the birds./ * /I  saw  that
movie. It's for the birds./

   [for the books] See: ONE FOR THE BOOKS.

   [for the devil] or [heck] or [the hell of it] {adv.  phr.}  For  no
specific reason; just for sport and fun. * /We poured salt into  Uncle
Tom's coffee, just for the heck of it./ See: DEVIL OF IT.

   [for the hills] See: HEAD FOR THE HILLS.

   [for the life of one] {adv.}, {informal} No  matter  how  hard  you
try. - Used for emphasis with negative statements. * /I can't for  the
life of me remember his name./

   [for the moon] See: ASK FOR THE MOON or CRY FOR THE MOON.

   [for the most part] {adv. phr.} In general;  mostly;  most  of  the
time; commonly; generally. * /European countries  are,  for  the  most
part, tired of war./ Syn.: BY AND LARGE, ON THE WHOLE.

   [for the nonce] See: FOR THE TIME BEING.

   [for the ride] See: ALONG FOR THE RIDE.

   [for the sake of] or [for one's sake] {adv. phr.} On behalf of; for
the benefit of. * /For the sake of truth and  freedom,  Dr.  Sakharov,
the Soviet dissident, was willing to be banished from Moscow./ *  /"Do
it for my sake, please!" Tom begged./

   [for the time being] also {literary} [for the  nonce]  {adv.  phr.}
For now; for a while; temporarily. * /I haven't any  note  paper,  but
this envelope will do for the time being./  *  /She  hasn't  found  an
apartment yet; she's staying with her aunt for the time being./

   [for the world] See: NOT FOR THE WORLD.

   [for the worse] {adj. phr.} or {adv. phr.} For  something  that  is
worse or not as good, with a worse result. * /He bought a new car  but
it turned out to be for  the  worse./  *  /The  sick  man's  condition
changed for the worse./  Compare:  TAKE  A  TURN.  Contrast:  FOR  THE
BETTER.

   [for to] {prep. phr.}, {dialect} So that you  can;  to.  *  /Simple
Simon went a-fishing for to catch a whale./ Syn.: IN ORDER TO.

   [forty winks] {n. phr.}, {informal} A short period of sleep; a nap.
* /When the truck driver felt sleepy, he stopped by the  side  of  the
road to catch forty winks./ Compare: SHUT-EYE.

   [forward] See: BACKWARD AND FORWARD, LOOK  FORWARD  TO,  PUT  ONE'S
BEST FOOT FORWARD.

   [forward wall] {n.} The line of a football team.  *  /Princeton  's
line outplayed the Rutgers forward wall./

   [for you] See: THAT'S --- FOR YOU.

   [foul ball] {n.} A batted baseball  that  lands  outside  the  foul
line. * /Mickey hit a long foul ball that landed on the roof./

   [foul line] {n.} 1. Either of two lines separating fair  from  foul
ground in baseball. * /Willie hit the ball just inside the  foul  line
for a double./ 2. A line across the  upper  end  of  a  bowling  alley
across which a bowler must not step. * /John bowled a  strike  but  it
didn't count because he stepped over the foul line./ 3. A line on  the
floor in front of the basket in basketball, from which foul shots  are
made. * /Tony scored eight points from the foul line./

   [foul out] {v.} 1. To make an out in baseball by hitting a foul fly
ball that is caught. * /He fouled out to the catcher./ 2. To be forced
to leave a basketball game because of  getting  more  than  the  limit
number of personal fouls.  *  /A  professional  basketball  player  is
allowed six personal fouls before fouling out./

   [foul play] {n.} Treachery; a criminal  act  (such  as  murder).  *
/After they discovered the dead body, the police suspected foul play./
* /"She must have met with foul play," the chief inspector  said  when
they couldn't find the 12-year-old girl who had disappeared./

   [foul shot] {n.} A free throw given in basketball to a  player  who
has been fouled. * /Tony was given two foul shots when he  was  fouled
while trying to shoot./ Compare: FIELD GOAL 2, FREE THROW.

   [foul up] {v.}, {informal} 1. To make dirty. * /The birds fouled up
his newly washed car./ 2. To tangle up. * /He tried to throw  a  lasso
but he got the rope all fouled up./ 3. To  ruin  or  spoil  by  stupid
mistakes; botch. * /He fouled the whole  play  up  by  forgetting  his
part./ 4. To make a mistake; to blunder. * /Blue suit and brown socks!
He had fouled up again./ 5. To go wrong. * /Why do some people foul up
and become criminals?/

   [foul-up]  {n.}  (stress  on  "foul")  1.  {informal}  A   confused
situation; confusion; mistake. * /The luncheon was handled  with  only
one or two foul-ups./ 2.  {informal}  A  breakdown.  *  /There  was  a
foul-up in his car's steering mechanism./  3.  {slang}  A  person  who
fouls up or mixes things. * /He had gotten a reputation as a foul-up./

   [foundation garment] {n.}  A  close-fitting  garment  designed  for
women to wear underneath their clothes to make them look slim; a piece
of woman's underwear. * /Jane wears a  foundation  garment  under  her
evening dress./

   [four] See: HIT ON ALL FOUR, ON ALL FOURS.

   [four bits] {n.}, {slang} Fifty cents. * /Tickets to the  play  are
four bits," said Bill./ Compare: TWO BITS.

   [four corners] {n.} All parts of a place. * /People came  from  the
four corners of the world to see him./ * /He  has  been  to  the  four
corners of the country./ Compare: ALL OVER.

   [four-eyes] {n.}, {slang} A person who  wears  glasses.  -  A  rude
expression, * /Hey, four-eyes, come over here./

   [four-leaf clover] {n.} A small green plant with four leaves  which
many people think means good luck because clover plants  usually  have
three leaves. * /John has a four-leaf clover in his pocket. He  thinks
he will have good luck now./

   [fourth class] {n.} A class of mail that is not sealed and weighs a
pound or more, that includes things that are bought and sold and  sent
in the mail, and printed things that are not  second  or  third  class
mail. * /Bill sent away 98 cereal box tops and a dollar and got back a
sheriff's badge and gun in the mail by fourth class./

   [fourth-class(1)] {adj.} Belonging to the fourth class of  mail.  *
/The package weighed a pound and a half, so  it  had  to  be  sent  by
fourth-class mail./

   [fourth-class(2)] {adv.} By  fourth-class  mail.  *  /How  did  the
company mail the package? Fourth-class./

   [fourth world] {n.}, {informal} The poor nations of the  world,  as
distinguished from the oil-rich nations of the  third  world.  *  /Sri
Lanka will never join OPEC, since it is a fourth world nation./

   [fowl] See: NEITHER FISH NOR FOWL.

   [fox  and  geese]  {n.  phr.}  A  tag  game  in  which  the  player
representing the fox tries to catch one of  the  players  representing
geese as they run around the outside of a circle.

   [fraidy-cat] or [fraid-cat] or [scaredy-cat] or [scared cat]  {n.},
{informal} A shy person; someone who is easily frightened.  -  Usually
used by or to children. * /Tom was a fraidy-cat and wouldn't go in the
water./

   [frame of mind] {n. phr.} One's mental outlook; the state of  one's
psychological condition, * /There is no use  trying  to  talk  to  him
while he is in such a negative frame of mind./

   [freak] {n.}, {slang} 1. A good, or well-liked person, the opposite
of a square, someone with long hair and who is likely (or known) to be
a marijuana smoker or a drug user. Also said of homosexuals. * /Is Joe
a square, establishment type? - Oh no, he's a regular freak./ 2.  [---
freak] An enthusiast, a person who does  or  cultivates  something  in
excess. * /Ellen is a film-freak./

   [freak-out(1)] {n.}, {slang} An act of losing control; a  situation
that is bizarre or unusual. * /The party  last  night  was  a  regular
freak-out./

   [freak out(2)] {v.  phr.},  {slang}  To  lose  control  over  one's
conscious self due to the influence of hallucinogenic  drugs.  *  /Joe
freaked out last night./

   [free] See: FOR FREE, MAKE FREE,  MAKE  FREE  WITH,  OF  ONE'S  OWN
ACCORD or OF ONE'S OWN FREE WILL.

   [free agent] {n.}  A  professional  player  who  does  not  have  a
contract with a team. * /The Giants signed two  free  agents  who  had
been released by the Cardinals./

   [free and easy] {adj.} Not strict;  relaxed  or  careless.  *  /The
teacher was free and easy with his students./ * /He  had  a  free  and
easy way of acting that attracted many friends./ * /They were free and
easy with their money and it was soon gone./

   [free ball] {n.} A ball in football that is in play, that is not in
the possession of anyone, that is not a legally thrown  forward  pass,
and that belongs to the first team which can grab it. * /A Notre  Dame
player fell on a free ball and recovered it for his team./

   [free enterprise] {n. phr.} A system in which private  business  is
controlled by as few government  rules  as  possible.  *  /The  United
States is proud of its free enterprise./

   [free hand] {n.} Great freedom. * /The teacher had a free  hand  in
her classroom./ * /Bob put paint on  the  fence  with  a  free  hand./
Compare: FREE REIN.

   [freeload] {v.} To have oneself supported  in  terms  of  food  and
housing at someone else's expense. * /When are you guys going to  stop
freeloading and do some work?/

   [free rein] {n.} Freedom to do what you want. * /The king had  free
rein in his country./ * /Father  is  strict  with  the  children,  but
Mother gives them free rein./ Compare: FREE HAND.

   [free throw] {n.} A  shot  at  the  basket  in  basketball  without
interference from opponents. * /Mike scored the  winning  point  on  a
free throw./ Compare: FIELD GOAL(2), FOUL SHOT.

   [free-for-all]  {n.}  1.  Unlimited,  free  access   to   something
everybody wants. * /The  Smith's  party  was  a  lavish  free-for-all;
everybody could eat and drink as much as they wanted./ 2.  A  barroom,
tavern, or street  fight  in  which  everybody  participates.  *  /The
celebration  after  the   soccer   game   victory   turned   into   an
uncontrollable free-for-all./

   [freeze] See: BLOOD RUNS COLD or BLOOD FREEZES.

   [freeze one's blood] See: BLOOD RUNS COLD.

   [freeze out] {v.}, {informal} To force out or keep from a share  or
part in something by unfriendly or dishonest treatment. *  /The  other
boys froze John out of the club./

   [freeze over] {v.} To become covered  with  ice.  *  /The  children
wanted the lake to freeze over so they could ice-skate./

   [French fried potato] or [French fry] {n.} A narrow strip of potato
fried in deep fat. - Usually used in the  plural.  *  /Sue  ordered  a
hamburger and french fries./

   [French leave] {n.} The act of slipping away from a place  secretly
and without saying good-bye to anyone. *  /"It's  getting  late,"  Rob
whispered to Janet. "Let's take French leave and get out of here."/

   [fresh from] {adj.} Recently returned from; experienced in. *  /Tom
was fresh from two years  in  Paris  and  was  very  condescending  in
matters pertaining to cuisine and wines./

   [friction tape] {n.} Black cloth tape with  one  sticky  side  used
around electric wires. * /The boy fixed his cracked baseball bat  with
some friction tape./

   [Friday] See: GIRL FRIDAY.

   [friend] See: BOY FRIEND, FAIR-WEATHER FRIEND,  GIRL  FRIEND,  LADY
FRIEND, MAKE FRIENDS.

   [friends with] Friendly to; a friend of.  *  /Alice  found  several
girls to be friends with on the first day of school./ *  /At  first  I
didn't like John, but now I am friends with him./

   [frightened out of one's wits] See: OUT OF ONE'S WITS.

   [frightened to death] See: TO DEATH.

   [fritter away] See: FOOL AWAY.

   [fro] See: TO AND FRO.

   [frog] See: BIG FROG IN A SMALL POND, LITTLE FROG IN A BIG POND.

   [from bad to worse] See: GO FROM BAD TO WORSE.

   [from grace] See: FALL FROM GRACE.

   [from hand to hand] {adv. phr.} From  one  person  to  another  and
another. * /The box of candy was passed from hand to  hand./  *  /Jane
brought her engagement ring, and it passed from hand to hand until all
the girls had admired it./

   [from hand to mouth] See: LIVE FROM HAND TO MOUTH.

   [from little acorns] See: GREAT OAKS FROM LITTLE ACORNS GROW.

   [from Missouri] {adj. phr.}, {slang} Doubtful; suspicious. * /Don't
try to fool me. I'm from Missouri./

   [from mouth to mouth] {adv. phr.} See: BY WORD OF MOUTH.

   [from pillar to post] {adv. phr.} From one place  to  another  many
times. * /Sarah's father changed jobs several times a  year,  and  the
family was moved from pillar to post./

   [from rags to  riches]  {adv.  phr.}  Suddenly  making  a  fortune;
becoming rich overnight. * /The Smiths went from rags to  riches  when
they unexpectedly won the lottery./

   [from scratch] {adv. phr.}, {informal} With no help  from  anything
done before; from the beginning; from nothing. * /Dick built  a  radio
from scratch./ * /In sewing class, Mary already  knew  how  to  sew  a
little, but Jane had to start from scratch./ Compare: FROM THE  GROUND
UP.

   [from the bottom of one's heart] or [with all  one's  heart]  {adv.
phr.} With great feeling; sincerely. * /A mother loves a baby from the
bottom of her heart./ * /John thanked his rescuer from the  bottom  of
his heart./ * /The people welcomed the  returning  soldiers  from  the
bottom of their hearts./

   [from the door] See: KEEP THE WOLF FROM THE DOOR.

   [from the ground up] {adv.  phr.}  From  the  beginning;  entirely;
completely. * /After the fire they had to rebuild their cabin from the
ground up./ * /Sam knows about baseball from the ground  up./  *  /The
new cars have been changed from the ground up./

   [from the heart] {adv.} Sincerely; honestly. * /John always  speaks
from the heart./

   [from the word "go"] {adv. phr.} From start to finish;  completely.
* /He may look French but he is a New Yorker from the word "go."/

   [from  time  to  time]  {adv.  phr.}  Not  often;  not   regularly;
sometimes; occasionally; at one time and then again at another time. *
/Even though the Smiths have moved, we still see  them  from  time  to
time./ * /Mother tries new recipes from time to time, but the children
never like them./ Syn.: NOW AND THEN,  AT  TIMES,  ONCE  IN  A  WHILE.
Compare: BY FITS AND STARTS, OFF AND ON.

   [from --- to ---] 1.  Used  with  a  repeated  word  to  show  that
something keeps on. Without ending. * /The world grows wiser from  age
to age./ * /He goes from day to day without changing his  necktie./  -
Also used in a short form like an  adjective.  *  /The  superintendent
spends more time on plans for the future, and  the  principal  handles
the day-to-day problems of the school./ 2. Used with a  repeated  word
to show that something happens again and  again.  *  /She  sells  face
cream from door to door./ * /The  artist  goes  from  place  to  place
painting pictures./ - Also used in a short form like an  adjective.  *
/Mr. Roberts began as a door-to-door salesman, and now is president of
the company./ 3. Used with words showing opposite or  extreme  limits,
often to emphasize that something is very large or  complete.  *  /The
eagle's wings measured six feet from tip to tip./ *  /Sarah  read  the
book from cover to cover./ * /Mrs. Miller's dinner included everything
from soup to nuts./ *  /That  book  is  a  bestseller  from  Maine  to
California./ * /The captain looked the boy over from head to foot./  *
/The dog sniffed the yard from end to end in  search  of  a  bone./  *
/This new car has  been  redesigned  from  top  to  bottom./  *  /That
bookstore has books on everything from archery  to  zoology./  *  /The
television show was broadcast  from  coast  to  coast./  *  /He  knows
mathematics from A to Z./ - Sometimes used in a  short  form  like  an
adjective. * /The airplane made a non-stop coast-to-coast flight./

   [from under] See: OUT FROM UNDER, PULL THE RUG OUT FROM UNDER.

   [from way back] {adv. phr.} From a previous time; from a long  time
ago. * /They have known one another from way back when  they  went  to
the same elementary school./

   [front] See: IN FRONT OF.

   [front and center] {adv.}, {slang} Used as a command to a person to
go to someone who wants him. * /Front  and  center,  Smith.  The  boss
wants to see you./

   [front court] {n.} The  half  of  a  basketball  court  that  is  a
basketball team's offensive zone. * /The guard brought the ball up  to
the front court./

   [front office] {n.}, {informal} The group of persons who  manage  a
business; the officers. * /The  front  office  decides  how  much  the
workers are paid./

   [frown upon] {v. phr.} To  look  with  disfavor  upon  somebody  or
something. * /Everybody in her family frowns upon  her  attachment  to
him./

   [fruitcake] See: NUTTY AS A FRUITCAKE.

   [fry] See: OTHER FISH TO FRY, OUT OF THE FRYING PAN INTO THE  FIRE,
SMALL FRY.

   [fuck  around]  {v.  phr.},  {vulgar},   {avoidable}   1.   To   be
promiscuous. * /John fucks around with the secretaries./ 2. To play at
something without purpose, to mess around. *  /He  doesn't  accomplish
anything, because he fucks around so much./

   [fuck off] {v. phr.}, {vulgar}, {avoidable} 1. Go  away!  *  /Can't
you see you're bothering me? Fuck off!/ 2. To be lazy. * /John said "I
don't feel like working, so I'll fuck off today."/ Compare:  BEAT  IT,
GOOF OFF.

   [fuck up] {v. phr.},  {vulgar},  {avoidable}  To  make  a  mess  of
something or oneself. * /Because he was totally unprepared, he  fucked
up his exam./ * /He is so fucked up he  doesn't  know  whether  he  is
coming or going./

   [fuck-up] {n.}, {vulgar},  {avoidable}  A  mess;  a  badly  botched
situation. * /What a fuck-up the dissolution of the USSR created!/

   [fuddy-duddy]  {n.}  A  person   whose   ideas   and   habits   are
old-fashioned. *  /His  students  think  Professor  Jones  is  an  old
fuddy-duddy./

   [fuel] See: ADD FUEL TO THE FLAME.

   [full] See: HAVE ONE'S HANDS FULL, IN FULL SWING, TO THE FULL.

   [full blast] {adv.} At full capacity.  *  /With  all  the  research
money at their disposal, the new computer firm was  going  ahead  full
blast./

   [full-bodied] {adj.} Mature; of maximum quality. * /The wines  from
that region in California have a rich, full-bodied flavor./

   [full-fledged] {adj.}  Having  everything  that  is  needed  to  be
something; complete. * /A girl needs three years of training to  be  a
full-fledged nurse./ * /The book was a full-fledged study of  American
history./

   [full of beans] {adj. phr.}, {slang} 1. Full of pep; feeling  good;
in high spirits. * /The football team was full of beans after  winning
the tournament./ * /The children were full of beans as they got  ready
for a picnic./ 2. also [full of  prunes]  Being  foolish  and  talking
nonsense. * /You are full of prunes; that man's not 120 years old./

   [full of it] See: FULL OF THE OLD NICK.

   [full of  oneself]  {adj.  phr.},  {informal}  Interested  only  in
yourself. * /Joe would be a nice boy if he would stop being so full of
himself./ Compare: BIG HEAD.

   [full of prunes] See: FULL OF BEANS(2).

   [full of the moon] {n. phr.}, {literary} The moon when it  is  seen
as a full circle; the time of a full moon. * /The robbers waited for a
dark night when the full of the moon was past./ Contrast: DARK OF  THE
MOON.

   [full of the Old Nick] or [full of the devil] or [full of it] {adj.
phr.}, {informal} Always making trouble; naughty; bad. * /That boy  is
full of the Old Nick./

   [full tilt] {adv.} At full speed; at high speed.  *  /He  ran  full
tilt into the door and broke his arm./

   [fun] See: MAKE FUN OF.

   [fun and games] {n.}, {slang},  {informal}  1.  A  party  or  other
entertaining event. 2. Something trivially easy. 3. Petting, or sexual
intercourse. 4. (Ironically) An extraordinary difficult task.  *  /How
was your math exam? (With a dismayed expression): - Yeah, it  was  all
fun and games, man./

   [fun house] {n.} A place where people see  many  funny  things  and
have tricks played on them to make them laugh or have a good  time.  *
/The boys and girls had a good time looking at themselves  in  mirrors
in the fun house./

   [funny bone] {n.} 1. The place at the back of the elbow that  hurts
like electricity when accidentally hit. * /He hit his  funny  bone  on
the arm of the chair./ 2. or {informal} [crazy bone] Sense  of  humor;
understanding jokes. * /Her way of telling the story tickled his funny
bone./

   [fur] See: MAKE THE FUR FLY.

   [furious] See: FAST AND FURIOUS.

   [fuse] See: BLOW A FUSE.

   [fuss] See: KICK UP A FUSS.

   [fuss  and  feathers]  {n.},  {informal}  Unnecessary  bother   and
excitement. * /She is full of fuss and feathers this morning./



        G

   [gab] See: GIFT OF GAB or GIFT OF THE GAB.

   [gaff] See: STAND THE GAFF.

   [gain ground] {v. phr.} 1.  To  go  forward;  move  ahead.  *  /The
soldiers fought hard and began to gain ground./ 2. To become stronger;
make progress; improve. * /The sick man gained ground after being near
death./  *  /Under  Lincoln,  the  Republican  Party  gained  ground./
Contrast: LOSE GROUND.

   [gallery] See: PLAY TO THE GALLERY.

   [gallon] See: TEN-GALLON HAT.

   [gallows' humor] {n. phr.} Bitter joke(s) that make fun of  a  very
serious matter, e.g. death, imprisonment, etc. *  /When  the  criminal
was led to the electric chair on Monday morning, he said, "Nice way to
start the week, eh?"/

   [game] See: AHEAD OF THE GAME, LOVE GAME, NAME OF  THE  GAME,  PLAY
THE GAME, AT --- STAGE OF THE GAME.

   [game at which two can play] {n. phr.} A plan,  trick,  or  way  of
acting that both sides may use. * /Rough football is a  game  two  can
play./ * /Politics is a game at which two can play./

   [game is not worth the candle] {literary} What is being done is not
worth the trouble or cost; the gain is not  worth  the  effort.  *  /I
don't want to walk so far on such a hot day. The game is not worth the
candle./

   [game is up] or {slang} [jig is up] The secret or plan won't  work;
we are caught or discovered. * /The game is up; the teacher knows  who
took her keys./ * /The jig's up; the principal  knows  the  boys  have
been smoking in the basement./ Compare: FAT IS IN THE FIRE.

   [gang] See: ROAD GANG, SECTION GANG.

   [gang up on] or [gang up against] {v. phr.}, {informal} To  jointly
attack someone, either physically or verbally; take sides in  a  group
against an individual. * /The class bully was stronger  than  all  the
other boys, so they had to gang up on him to put him  in  his  place./
Compare: LINE UP(4b).

   [garbage down] {v. phr.}, {slang} To eat eagerly and at great speed
without much regard for manners or social convention. * /The  children
garbaged down their food./

   [garden apartment] {n.} An apartment with a garden near it. *  /The
couple live in a garden apartment./

   [garment] See: FOUNDATION GARMENT.

   [gas] See: STEP ON IT or STEP ON THE GAS.

   [gasket] See: BLOW A FUSE or BLOW A GASKET.

   [gas up] {v.}, {informal} 1. To fill the gasoline tank of.  *  /The
mechanics gassed up the planes for their long trip./ 2.  To  fill  the
tank with gasoline. * /The big truck stopped at  the  filling  station
and gassed up./

   [gate] See: GET THE BOUNCE or GET THE GATE, GIVE THE BOUNCE or GIVE
THE GATE.

   [gate crasher] See: CRASH THE GATE.

   [gather] See: ROLLING STONE GATHERS NO MOSS.

   [gather in] {v.}, {informal} To catch. * /The end gathered  in  the
pass and went over for a touchdown./

   [gauntlet] See: RUN THE GAUNTLET, THROW DOWN THE GAUNTLET.

   [gay nineties] {n.} The years between 1890 and 1900; remembered  as
a happy exciting time. * /Ladies wore large hats in the gay nineties./
* /Picnics were popular in the gay nineties./

   [gaze] See: CRYSTAL GAZING.

   [gear] See: HIGH GEAR, SLIP A COG or SLIP  A  GEAR,  THROW  OUT  OF
GEAR.

   [geese] See: FOX AND GEESE.

   [gee whiz] {interj.}, {informal} Used as  an  exclamation  to  show
surprise or other strong feeling. Rare  in  written  English.  *  /Gee
whiz! I am late again./

   [general] See: IN GENERAL.

   [generation  gap]  {n.},   {informal},   {hackneyed   phrase}   The
difference  in  social  values,  philosophies,  and  manners   between
children and their parents, teachers and relatives which causes a lack
of  understanding  between  them  and  frequently  leads  to   violent
confrontations. * /My daughter is twenty and I am forty, but  we  have
no generation gap in our family./

   [generous to a fault] {adj. phr.} Excessively generous. * /Generous
to a fault, my Aunt Elizabeth gave away all her rare books to her  old
college./

   [George] See: LET GEORGE DO IT.

   [get] See: GIVE AS GOOD AS ONE GETS, EARLY BIRD CATCHES THE WORM or
EARLY BIRD GETS THE WORM, GO-GETTER, TELL ONE WHERE TO GET OFF.

   [get about] See: GET AROUND(1b).

   [get a black eye] {v. phr.} 1. To receive a dark  ring  around  the
eye after being hit  by  someone's  fist  or  an  object.  *  /In  the
fistfight Tom got a black eye from Pete./ * /Sue got a black eye  when
she ran into a tree./ 2. To have one's character  denigrated.  *  /Our
firm received a black eye because of all the consumer complaints  that
were lodged against our product./

   [get a break] {v. phr.} To receive a stroke of luck. * /Bill got  a
break when he won the lottery./

   [get across] {v.} 1. To explain clearly, make (something) clear; to
make clear the meaning of. * /Mr. Brown is a good coach because he can
get across the plays./ Syn.: PUT ACROSS. 2. To become  clear.  *  /The
teacher tried to explain the problem, but the explanation did not  get
across to the class./

   [get after] {v.}, {informal} 1. To try or try again to make someone
do what he is supposed to do. * /Ann's mother gets after her  to  hang
up her clothes./ 2. To scold or make an attack on. * /Bob's mother got
after him for tracking mud into the house./ * /The police are  getting
after the crooks in the city./

   [get ahead] {v.} 1. {informal} To become successful. *  /Mr.  Brown
was a good lawyer and soon began to get ahead./ * /The person  with  a
good education finds it easier to get ahead./ 2. To be  able  to  save
money; get out of debt. * /In a few more years he will be able to  get
ahead./ * /After Father pays all the doctor bills, maybe we can get  a
little money ahead and buy a car./

   [get a load of] {v. phr.}, {slang} 1. To take a good look  at;  see
(something unusual or interesting.) - Often used to show  surprise  or
admiration. * /Get a load of that pretty  girl!/  *  /Get  a  load  of
Dick's new car!/ Compare: LOOK OVER. 2. To listen to carefully or with
interest, especially exciting news. - Often used as a command: /Get  a
load of this: Alice got married yesterday!/

   [get along] also [get on] {v.} 1. To go or move away;  move  on.  *
/The policeman told the boys on the street corner to get along./ 2. To
go forward; make progress; advance, * /John is getting along  well  in
school. He is learning  more  every  day./  Syn.:  GET  AHEAD.  3.  To
advance; become old or late. * /It is getting along towards  sundown./
* /Grandmother is 68 and getting along./ 4. To get or  make  what  you
need; manage. * /It isn't easy to get along in the jungle./ * /We  can
get along on $100 a week./ Compare: DO WITHOUT(2), GET BY, MAKE DO. 5.
To live or work together in a  friendly  way;  agree,  cooperate;  not
fight or argue. * /We don't get along with the Jones family./  *  /Jim
and Jane get along fine together./ *  /Don't  be  hard  to  get  along
with./

   [get a fix] or [give a fix] {v. phr.}, {slang}, {drug  culture}  To
provide (someone) with an injection of narcotics. * /The  neighborhood
pusher gave Joe a fix./ Contrast: GET A FIX ON.

   [get a fix on] {v. phr.}, {informal} Receive a reading of a distant
object by electronic means, as by radar or sonar. * /Can you get a fix
on the submarine?/ Contrast: GET A FIX.

   [get a grip on] {v. phr.} To take firm control of something. *  /If
Tim wants to keep his job, he had better get a  grip  on  himself  and
start working harder./ Contrast: LOSE ONE'S GRIP.

   [get a head start on] {v. phr.}  To  receive  preliminary  help  or
instruction in a particular subject so that  the  recipient  is  in  a
favorable position compared to his or her peers.  *  /At  our  school,
children get a head start on their reading ability thanks to a special
program./

   [get a kick out of]  {v.  phr.}  To  be  greatly  thrilled;  derive
pleasure from. * /Tom and Many get a kick out of playing four hands on
the piano./

   [get a line on]  {v.  phr.}  To  receive  special,  sometimes  even
confidential information about something. * /Before Bill accepted  his
new position, he got a line on how the business was being run./

   [get a move on] {informal} or {slang} [get a wiggle on]  {v.  phr.}
To hurry up; get going. - Often used as a command. * /Get a  move  on,
or you will be late./

   [get a raise] {v. phr.}  To  receive  an  increment  in  salary.  *
/Because of his good work, Ted got a raise after May 1./

   [get a rise out of] {v. phr.}, {slang} 1. To have some fun with  (a
person) by making (him) angry; tease. * /The boys get a  rise  out  of
Joe by teasing him about his girl friend./ 2. {vulgar}, {avoidable} To
be sexually aroused (said of males) * /Jim always gets a rise  out  of
watching adult movies./

   [get (all) dolled up] See: DOLL UP.

   [get along] or [on in years] {v. phr.} To  age;  grow  old.  *  /My
father is getting along in years;  he  will  be  ninety  on  his  next
birthday./

   [get an earful] {v. phr.}, {informal}  To  hear  more  (of  usually
unwelcome news) than one expects or wishes to hear. * /I asked how Tim
and his wife were getting along,  and  I  certainly  got  an  earful./
Contrast: SAY A MOUTHFUL.

   [get around] {v.} 1a. To go to  different  places;  move  about.  *
/Mary's father really  gets  around;  Monday  he  was  in  Washington;
Wednesday he was in Chicago; and today he is in  New  York./  *  /Fred
broke his leg, but he is able to get about on crutches./ 1b.  or  [get
about] To become widely known especially by being talked about. * /Bad
news gets around quickly./  2a.  {informal}  To  get  by  a  trick  or
flattery what you want from (someone). * /Mary knows how to get around
her father./ 2b. {informal} To find a way of  not  obeying  or  doing;
escape from. * /Some people try to get around the tax laws./  *  /John
did not weigh enough to join the Navy, but  he  got  around  that;  he
drank a lot of water before his physical examination./

   [get around to] {v.} To do (something) after putting it  off;  find
time for. * /Mr. Lee hopes to get  around  to  washing  his  car  next
Saturday./

   [get at] {v.} 1.  To  reach  an  understanding  of;  find  out  the
meaning. * /This book is very hard to get at./ 2. To  do  harm  to.  *
/The cat is on the chair trying to get at the  canary./  Compare:  GET
BACK AT. 3. To have a chance to do; attend to. * /I hope I  have  time
to get at my homework tonight./ Compare: GET TO(2). 4.  To  mean;  aim
at; hint at. * /What was Betty getting at when she said she  knew  our
secret?/ * /What the teacher was getting at in this lesson was that it
is important to speak correctly./ Syn.: DRIVE AT. Compare: GET ACROSS.

   [getaway car] {n. phr.} A vehicle parked near the scene of a  crime
in which the criminals escape. * /The police intercepted  the  getaway
car at a major crossroads./

   [get away] {v.} 1. To get loose or get free; become free from being
held or controlled; succeed in leaving; escape. * /As Jim  was  trying
the bat, it got away from him and hit Tom./ * /Someone left  the  door
open, and the puppy got away./ * /Mary tried to catch a butterfly, but
it got away from her./ * /The bank robbers used a stolen  car  to  get
away./ * /If Mr. Graham can get away from his store this afternoon, he
will take Johnny fishing./ 2. To begin; start. * /We got away early in
the morning on the first day of our vacation./ * /The race got away to
a fast start./ Compare: GET OFF(3), START IN, START OUT.

   [get away with] {v.}, {informal} To do  (something  bad  or  wrong)
without being caught or punished. * /Some students  get  away  without
doing their homework./ See: GET BY(3).

   [get away with murder] {v. phr.}, {informal} To do  something  very
bad without being caught or punished. * /John is scolded if he is late
with his homework, but Robert gets away with murder./  *  /Mrs.  Smith
lets her children get away with murder./

   [get a wiggle on] See: GET A MOVE ON.

   [get a word in] or [get a word in edgewise] also  [get  a  word  in
edgeways] {v. phr.} To find a chance to say something when others  are
talking. * /The little boy listened to the older students and  finally
got in a word./ * /Mary talked so much that Jack couldn't get  a  word
in edgewise./

   [get back at] {v.}, {informal} To do something bad to (someone  who
has done something bad to you) hurt in return. * /John played  a  joke
on Henry, and next day Henry got back at him./ * /The elephant  waited
many years to get back at the man who fed him red pepper./  Syn.:  PAY
BACK, SETTLE A SCORE, TIT FOR TAT. Compare: GET AT(2), GET EVEN.

   [get back on one's feet] {v. phr.} To once again become financially
solvent; regain one's former status and income, or health. * /Max  got
back on his feet soon after his open heart surgery. Tom's business was
ruined due to the inflation, but he got back on his feet again./

   [get behind] {v.} 1. To go too slowly: be late;  do  something  too
slowly. * /The post office got behind in delivering  Christmas  mail./
Syn.: FALL BEHIND. Contrast: KEEP UP. 2. {informal} To support;  help.
* /A club is much better if members get behind their  leaders.  *  /We
got behind Mary to  be  class  president./  Compare:  BACK  OF(3).  3.
{informal} To explain; find out the reason  for.  *  /The  police  are
questioning many people to try and get behind the bank robbery./ Syn.:
GET TO THE BOTTOM OF.

   [get busy] {v. phr.} To accelerate the pace in one's activities.  *
/We've got to get busy if we want to make the deadline./

   [get by] {v.}, {informal} 1. To be able to go past;  pass.  *  /The
cars moved to the curb so that the fire engine could get  by./  2.  To
satisfy the need or demand. * /Mary can get by with her old coat  this
winter./ * /The janitor does just enough work to get  by./  Syn.:  GET
ALONG(4). 3. Not to be caught and scolded or punished. * /The  soldier
thought he could get by with his dirty  rifle./  *  /The  boy  got  by
without answering the teacher's question because a visitor  came  in./
Compare: GET AWAY WITH.

   [get carried away with] See: CARRY AWAY.

   [get couthed up] {v. phr.},  {slang}  To  get  oneself  dressed  up
neatly and look elegant and presentable. * /What are you  getting  all
couthed  up  for?/  (This   derives   from   "uncouth"   ("outlandish,
ill-mannered") by leaving off the prefix "un-".)

   [get cracking] {v. phr.}, {slang}, {informal} To hurry up, to start
moving fast. (Used mostly as an imperative). *  /Come  on,  you  guys,
let's get cracking!/ (Let's hurry up!) Compare: GET GOING 2.

   [get  credit  for]  {v.  phr.}  To  be  given  points   of   merit,
recognition, or praise for labor or intellectual contribution. *  /Our
firm got a lot of credit for developing parts of the  space  shuttle./
Contrast: GIVE CREDIT FOR.

   [get one down] {v. phr.}, {informal} 1. To make (someone)  unhappy;
cause low spirits; cause discouragement. *  /Low  grades  are  getting
Helen down./ * /Three straight  losses  got  the  team  down./  2.  To
swallow; digest. * /The medicine was  so  bitter  I  couldn't  get  it
down./ 3. To depress a person's spirit. * /Working at  such  an  awful
job got Mike down./

   [get down cold] {v. phr.} To memorize perfectly. * /Terry  got  the
text of his speech down cold./

   [get down off your high horse] See: OFF ONE'S HIGH HORSE.

   [get down to] {v.}, {informal} To get started on, being on. *  /Joe
wasted a lot of time before he got down to work./ * /Let's get down to
work./ Compare: GET AT(3), GET GOING, GET TO.

   [get down to brass tacks] also  [get  down  to  cases]  {v.  phr.},
{informal} To begin the most important work or business;  get  started
on the most important things to talk about or know. * /The men  talked
about little things and then got down  to  brass  tacks./  *  /A  busy
doctor wants his patients to get down to brass tacks./

   [get down to business] or [work] {v. phr.} To start being  serious;
begin to face a problem to be solved, or a task to be accomplished.  *
/Gentlemen, I'm afraid the party is over  and  we  must  get  down  to
business./

   [get down to work] See: GET DOWN TO BUSINESS.

   [get even] {v.}, {informal} 1. To owe nothing. * /Mr. Johnson has a
lot of debts, but in a few years he will get even./ 2. To do something
bad to pay someone back for something bad; get revenge; hurt  back.  *
/Jack is waiting to get even with Bill for tearing up his notebook./ *
/Last April First Mr. Harris got fooled by Joe, and this year he  will
get even./ Compare: GET BACK AT.

   [get going] {v.}, {informal} 1. To excite; stir up and make  angry.
* /The boys' teasing gets John going./ * /Talking about  her  freckles
gets Mary going./ 2. or {chiefly British} [get cracking] To  begin  to
move; get started. * /The teacher told Walter  to  get  going  on  his
history lesson./ * /The foreman told the workmen to get  cracking./  *
/Let's get going. It's almost supper time./ Compare: GET DOWN TO, STEP
LIVELY.

   [get gray hair] or [get gray] {v. phr.}, {informal} To  become  old
or gray from worrying; become very anxious or worried.  -  Often  used
with "over". * /"If John doesn't join the team, I won't get gray  hair
over it," the coach said./ * /Naughty children  are  why  mothers  get
gray./ Compare: GIVE GRAY HAIR.

   [get his or hers] {v. phr.}  To  receive  one's  proper  reward  or
punishment. * /Tim will get his when his wife finds out that he's been
seeing other women./

   [get hitched] {v. phr.} To get married. * /After a long  period  of
dating, Fred and Mary finally got hitched./

   [get hold of] {v.} 1. To get  possession  of.  *  /Little  children
sometimes get hold of sharp knives and cut themselves./ 2. To  find  a
person so you can speak with him. * /Mr. Thompson spent several  hours
trying to get hold of his lawyer./

   [get in] {v. phr.} 1. To be  admitted.  *  /Andy  wants  to  go  to
medical school but his grades aren't good enough for him to  get  in./
2. To arrive. * /What time does the plane from New York get in?/ 3. To
enter. * /"Get in the car, and let's go," Tom said in a hurry./ 4.  To
put in stock; receive. * /The store just got  in  a  new  shipment  of
shoes from China./

   [get in on] {v. phr.} To be permitted to participate; become  privy
to; be included. * /This is your chance to get in on a wonderful  deal
with the new company if you're willing to make an investment./

   [get in on the ground floor] {v. phr.}  To  be  one  of  the  first
members  or  employees  to  participate  in  the  growth  of  a  firm,
educational institution, etc. * /Elliott got in on  the  ground  floor
and made a fortune at the company./ * /Mr. Smith who  joined  the  new
college as an instructor, got in on the ground floor, and wound up  as
its president after twenty years./

   [get in on the] or [one's act] {v. phr.} To  do  something  because
others are engaged in the same act; join others. * /John's business is
succeeding so well that both of his brothers want to  get  in  on  the
act./

   [get in one's hair] See: IN ONE'S HAIR.

   [get in one's way] See: IN ONE'S WAY.

   [get into] See: BE INTO SOMETHING.

   [get into line] {v. phr.} To cooperate; conform.  *  /The  maverick
members of the party were advised to get into line unless they  wanted
to be expelled./ Contrast: OUT OF LINE.

   [get in touch with] See: IN TOUCH.

   [get involved with] See: BE INVOLVED WITH.

   [get in with] {v. phr.} To join up with; begin to  associate  with;
be accepted by. * /He got in with the wrong gang of boys and wound  up
in jail./ * /She got in with her father's firm and made  a  successful
career of it./

   [get in wrong] {v. phr.} To incur the anger or dislike of  someone;
come into disfavor. * /Although he means well, Fred is always  getting
in wrong with someone at the office./

   [get it] {v.} 1. See:  CATCH  IT.  2.  To  understand;  comprehend;
grasp. * /"I can't get it," John said. "Why do you spend  so  much  on
clothes."/

   [get it all together] {v. phr.} 1. To be  in  full  possession  and
control of one's mental faculties; have a clear purpose well  pursued.
* /You've sure got it all together, haven't you?/ 2.  Retaining  one's
self-composure under pressure. * /A few  minutes  after  the  burglars
left he got it all together and called the  police./  3.  To  be  well
built, stacked (said of girls and women.) * /Sue's  sure  got  it  all
together, hasn't she?/

   [get it in the neck] See: CATCH IT IN THE NECK.

   [get it] or [something in] or [into one's head] {v. phr.} To become
possessed of an idea; develop a fixed idea. * /Jack got  it  into  his
head to become a marine and nothing we could say would make him change
his mind./

   [get lost] {v. phr.}, {slang} Go away! - Used as a command. *  /Get
lost! I want to study./ * /John told Bert to get lost./ Compare:  DROP
DEAD.

   [get mixed up] See: MIXED UP.

   [get next to] See: BE CLOSE TO.

   [get off] {v.} 1. To come down from or out of. * /The ladder  fell,
and Tom couldn't get off the roof./  *  /The  bus  stopped,  the  door
opened, and Father got off./ 2. To take off. * /Joe's mother told  him
to get his wet clothes off./ 3. To get away;  leave.  *  /Mr.  Johnson
goes fishing whenever he can get off from work./ *  /William  got  off
early in the morning./ 4. To go free. * /Mr. Andrews got off with a $5
fine when he was caught passing a stop sign./ 5. To  make  (something)
go. * /The halfback got off a lung pass./ * /John got a letter off  to
his grandmother./ 6. To tell. * /The governor got off several jokes at
the beginning of his speech./

   [get off cheap] {v. phr.} 1. To receive a  lesser  punishment  than
one deserves. * /Ted could have been sentenced  to  fifteen  years  in
prison; he got off cheap by  receiving  a  reduced  sentence  of  five
years./ 2. To pay less than the normal price. * /If you had  your  car
repaired for only $75, you got off cheap./ Contrast: GET AWAY WITH.

   [get off easy] {v. phr.}, {informal} To have only a little trouble;
escape something worse. * /The children who missed school to go to the
fair got off easy./ * /John got off easy because it was the first time
he had taken his father's car without permission./

   [get off it] See: COME OFF IT.

   [get off one's back]  {v.  phr.},  {slang},  {colloquial}  To  stop
criticizing or nagging someone. * /"Get off my back! Can't you see how
busy I am?"/

   [get off one's  case]  or  [back]  or  [tail]  {v.  phr.}  To  stop
bothering and constantly checking up on someone; quit hounding one.  *
/"Get off my case!" he cried angrily. "You're worse than  the  cops."/
Contrast: ON ONE'S CASE.

   [get off one's chest] See: OFF ONE'S CHEST.

   [get off one's tail] {v. phr.},  {slang}  To  get  busy,  to  start
working. * /OK you guys! Get off your tails and get cracking!/

   [get off on the wrong foot] {v. phr.} To make a  bad  start;  begin
with a mistake. * /Peggy got off  on  the  wrong  foot  with  her  new
teacher; she chewed gum in class and the teacher didn't like it./

   [get off the ground] {v. phr.}, {informal}  To  make  a  successful
beginning; get a good start; go ahead; make progress. * /Our plans for
a party didn't get off the ground because no one could come./

   [get off the hook] See: OFF THE HOOK.

   [get off to a flying] or  [running  start]  {v.  phr.}  To  have  a
promising or successful beginning. * /Ron got off to a flying start in
business school when he got nothing but A's./

   [get on] or [get onto] {v.}, {informal} 1. To  speak  to  (someone)
roughly about something he did wrong; blame; scold. *  /Mrs.  Thompson
got on the girls for not keeping their rooms clean./ * /The  fans  got
on the new shortstop after he made several errors./ Syn.: JUMP ON.  2.
See: GET ALONG. 3. To grow older. * /Work seems harder these days; I'm
getting on, you know./

   [get one's] See: GET WHAT'S COMING TO ONE.

   [get one's back up] {v. phr.}, {informal} To become or  make  angry
or stubborn. * /Fred got his back up when I said he was wrong./ * /Our
criticisms of his actions just got his hack up./

   [get  one's  brains  fried]  {v.   phr.},   {slang},   {also   used
colloquially} 1. To sit in the  sun  and  sunbathe  for  an  excessive
length of time. * /Newcomers to Hawaii should be warned not to sit  in
the sun too long - they'll get their brains fried./ 2. To get high  on
drugs. * /He can't make a coherent sentence anymore  -  he's  got  his
brains fried./

   [get one's dander up] or [get one's Irish up] {v. phr.}  To  become
or make angry. * /The boy got his dander up because he couldn't go  to
the store./ * /The children get the teacher's dander up when they make
a lot of noise./ Compare: BLOW A FUSE.

   [get one's ducks in a row] {v. phr.}, {informal} To get  everything
ready. * /The scoutmaster told the boys to get their ducks  in  a  row
before they went to camp./ * /Mr. Brown got his ducks in a row for his
trip./ Compare: LINE UP.

   [get one's feet on the ground] See: FEET ON THE GROUND.

   [get one's feet wet] {v. phr.}, {informal} To begin;  do  something
for the first time. * /The party was at Bill's house and when Ruth and
I got there the party had already started. "Jump right in and don't be
afraid to get your feet wet," said Bill./ * /"It's not hard  to  dance
once you get your feet wet," said the teacher./

   [get one's fingers burned] See: BURN ONE'S FINGERS.

   [get one's foot in the door] See: FOOT IN THE DOOR.

   [get one's goat] {v. phr.}, {informal} To make a  person  disgusted
or angry. * /The boy's laziness all summer got his father's  goat./  *
/The slow service at the cafe got Mr. Robinson's goat./

   [get one's hands on] See: LAY ONE'S HANDS ON.

   [get one's number] or [have one's number] {v. phr.}, {informal}  To
find out or know what kind of person somebody is. * /The boys soon had
the new student's number./ *  /The  girls  got  their  new  roommate's
number the first week of school./

   [get one's rear in gear] {v. phr.}, {slang} To  hurry  up,  to  get
going. * /I'm gonna have to get my rear in gear./

   [get one's second wind] See: SECOND WIND.

   [get one's teeth into]  or  [sink  one's  teeth  into]  {v.  phr.},
{informal} To have something real or solid to think about; go to  work
on seriously; struggle with. * /After dinner, John got his teeth  into
the algebra lesson./ * /Frank chose a subject for his report  that  he
could sink his teeth into./

   [get one's tongue] See: CAT GET ONE'S TONGUE.

   [get on in years] See: ALONG IN YEARS.

   [get on one's good side] {v. phr.} To gain the  favor  of  someone;
flatter or please another. * /A clever lobbyist knows how  to  get  on
the good side of both the House of Representatives and the Senate./

   [get on one's nerves] {v. phr.} To  make  you  nervous.  *  /John's
noisy eating habits get on your nerves./  *  /Children  get  on  their
parents' nerves by asking so many questions./

   [get on the ball] See: ON THE BALL.

   [get on the bandwagon] See: JUMP ON THE BANDWAGON.

   [get on the good side of] See: ON THE GOOD SIDE OF.

   [get on the stick] {v. phr.}, {slang}, {informal} To get moving; to
stop being idle and to start working vigorously. *  /All  right,  man,
let's get on the stick!/ Compare: ON THE BALL, GET OFF ONE'S TAIL.

   [get on to one] {v. phr.} To figure someone  out;  understand  what
someone else is up to. * /The FBI is on to Jim's secret  trading  with
the enemy./

   [get one wrong] {v. phr.} To misinterpret; misunderstand another. *
/Don't get me wrong; I didn 't mean to criticize you./

   [get] or [have one's say] See: DAY IN COURT.

   [get out] {v. phr.} 1. Leave or depart. * /"Get out of  here!"  the
teacher shouted angrily to the misbehaving  student./  *  /"Driver,  I
want to get out by the opera."/ 2. To publish; produce. *  /Our  press
is getting out two new books on ecology./ 3. To escape;  leak  out.  *
/We must not let the news about this secret invention get out./

   [get out in the open] See: OUT IN THE OPEN.

   [get out of] {v. phr.} 1. To be excused from; avoid. * /He got  out
of jury duty because of his illness./ 2. To gain from; extract from. *
/Tom complained that he didn't get  anything  out  of  the  course  on
grammar./

   [get out of the way] See: OUT OF THE WAY.

   [get out of hand] See: OUT OF HAND, OUT OF CONTROL.

   [get over] {v.} 1. To finish. * /Tom worked fast to get his  lesson
over./ 2. To pass over. * /It was hard to get over the muddy road./ 3.
To get we