a figure of fun
Preserved but no longer current.
Meaning · English
Of droll appearance, whether from untidiness, quaintness, or other peculi- arity. "A pretty figure'* is a rather stronger expression.
Era: ca. 1898 (Victorian)
Sources & notes
Reproduced from Brewer’s Dictionary of Phrase and Fable (1898 edition, public domain; archive.org, retrieved 2026-07-31; OCR text, minor errors possible). Reflects the scholarship and attitudes of its era.
Common questions
What does “a figure of fun” mean?
Of droll appearance, whether from untidiness, quaintness, or other peculi- arity. "A pretty figure'* is a rather stronger expression.
Is “a figure of fun” formal or informal?
No register label has been reviewed yet — treat it as neutral and check the usage notes above.