fid-fad
A game similar to chequers, or drafts, played in the West of England.
Browse English 2559
All languages English Tiếng Việt
Where will you be? Anywhere UK & IrelandUnited StatesOnline slangBusiness jargon
fiddle
A sharper, "a street mugger." In America, a swindle or an imposture.
fiddle faddle
Trifling discourse, nonsense. A mere fiddle faddle fellow; a trifier.
fiddle while Rome burns
To do something trivial while a serious problem needs attention
fiddle-face
A person with a wizened countenance.
fiddle-faddle
Twaddle, or trifling discourse.—Old Cant.
fiddle-sticks!
An exclamation signifying nonsense. Sometimes "Fiddle-de-dee."
fiddler
A sharper, a cheat; also a careless, negligent, or dilatory person. On board some ocean steamers the FIDDLER is the capstan-house, the only place on board where passengers are permitted to smoke. The term FIDDLER is easily traceable to the fact that, while the seamen are working the capstan-bars, a man sometimes plays on the fiddle to cheer them at their toil.
Fiddler's Green
The land of sailors where there is perpetual mirth, a fiddle that never ceases playing to untiring dancers, plenty of grog, and unlimited tobacco.
fiddler's money
A silver penny. The fee given to a fiddler at a wake by each dancer.
fiddler's news
Stale news carried about by wandering fidiljers.
fiddles
Transverse pieces of wood used on shipboard to protect the dishes at table during stormy weather. Swing tables obviate the use of FIDDLES.
fiddlestick's end
Nothing; the end of the ancient fiddlesticks ending in a point; hence metaphorically used to express a thing terminating in nothing.
fiddling
Doing any odd jobs in the streets, holding horses, carrying parcels, &c., for a living. Among the middle classes, FIDDLING means idling away time, or trifling, and amongst sharpers it means gambling.
fidgets
He has got the fidgets; said of one that cannot sit long in a place.
fidlam ben
General thieves; called also St. Peter's sons, having every finger a fish-hook. CANT.
field
The whole of the runners in a race of any kind. "A FIELD of fourteen runners was placed in care of the starter." In betting phraseology the FIELD represents the bulk of the horses, as opposed to the favourite. "The FIELD for a pony," means that the offerer will lay 25l. against the favourite, preferring the chances of a winner turning up amongst the others.
field day
A situation where someone can fully express themselves or do as they like
field lane duck
A baked sheep's head.
field of fire
(Mil.). That part of the terrain before infantry or machine guns which their weapons can coyer — i.e. which is not inter- rupted by woods, buildings, or the contours of the ground.
field of force
A term used in physics to denote the range within which a force, such as magnetism, is effective.
Field of the Cloth of Gold
The plain, near Guisnes, where Henry VIII met Francois I in 1520 to discuss the succession to the Empire on the death of Maximilian. It was so called from the splendour and magnificence dis- played. Accompanied by Cardinal Wolsey in an immense panoply of state, Henry met the French king and his nobles who were overawed by this magnificence. Many of the imposing ceremonies were spoiled by the rain and wind that swept the countryside.
field of vision
The space in a telescope, microscope, etc., within which the object is visible.
Field Officer
In the British Army any officer between the rank of captain and that of general, Le. major, lieutenant-colonel, colonel, brigadier.
field piece
A piece of field artillery, a field gun.
field works
Works thrown up by an army besieging or defending a fortress, or in strengthening its position.
fielding's novel of that name
It is said that the character is intended for his own wife. The name is also associated with Amelia Sedley, one of the heroines of Vanity Fair. Amen Corner, at the west end of Paternoster Row, London, was where the monks used to finish the Pater Noster as they went in pro- cession to St.
fieri facias
A red-faced man is said to have been served with a writ of fieri facias.
fieri-facias
A red-faced man is often jocularly said to have been served with a writ of FIERI-FACIAS.
fifth wheel
An unnecessary or unwanted person in a group
Fifth-Monarchy Men
A sect of English fanatics of about 1654 to 1660, who maintained that Jesus Christ was about to come a second time to the earth, and establish the fifth universal monarchy. The four preceding monarchies were the Assyrian, the Persian, the Macedonian, and the Roman. In politics, the Fifth-Monarchy Men were zealous re- formers and levellers.
fifty-cent tour
A brief and superficial tour or explanation
Fifty-four Forty or Fight
A slogan used in the U.S.A. presidential election of 1846. For some years there had been a dispute with Britain as to the northern boundary of the U.S.A. in the far west. The U.S.A. claimed that their territory should extend as far north as the southern border of Russian Alaska, which was 54° 40' N.
fig
"in full FIG," i.e., full-dress costume, "extensively got up." Possibly an allusion to the dress assumed by our first parents after they were naked and not ashamed, or else an abbreviation of figure, in the references to plates in books of fashions.
fig-leaf
A small apron worn by ladies.
figaro
A barber; from Le Nozze di Figaro.
figger
A little boy put in at a window to hand out goods to the diver. See DIVER.
figging law
The art of picking pockets. CANT.
fight fires
Deal with urgent problems as they arise
fight for one's life
to struggle to survive or avoid death
fight one's corner
To defend or support one's own interests or position
fight or flight
React to a threat with aggression or escape
fight shy
To avoid something or someone because it makes you uncomfortable
fighting chance
A reasonable possibility of success
fighting spirit
Recognized English idiom; full definition pending editorial review.
figure
"to cut a good or bad FIGURE," to make good or indifferent appearance; "what’s the FIGURE?" how much is to pay? FIGURE-HEAD, a person’s face.—Sea term.
figure dancer
One who alters figures on bank notes, converting tens to hundreds.
figure somebody out
understand someone's character or behavior
filch
To steal, or purloin. Originally a cant word, derived from the FILCHES, or hooks, thieves used to carry, to hook clothes, or any portable articles from open windows.—Vide Decker. It was considered a cant or gipsy term up to the beginning of the last century. Harman has "FYLCHE, to robbe." Probably from "FILICHI," Romany for a handkerchief.
file
A deep or artful man, a jocose name for a cunning person. Originally a term for a pickpocket, when to FILE was to cheat or rob. FILE, an artful man, was used in the thirteenth and fourteenth centuries. To deal with an artful man is sometimes said to be like biting a FILE.
file away
to store information in one's memory for future use
file off the serial numbers
To modify something to conceal its origin or source
filibuster
An American adventurer, who, if successful, helps to extend the boundaries of the United States, becomes a General, and receives high honours, but who remains a FILIBUSTER, and is despised as such, if he fails. The Texan, Nicaraguan, and kindred expeditions were of a FILIBUSTERING order.
fill in
to provide missing information
fill in the blank
to provide a missing piece of information
fill one's boots
to take as much as one can
fill one's face
to eat a large amount of food
fill one's hand
To get everything one needs or wants
fill someone's shoes
Replace someone in a role or position
fill something in
to complete a form or document with information
Advertisement
Ad space — ads help keep Idiomer free. Premium will remove them.