English idioms - Alphabetical list F

	Idiom	Meaning
F	Face like a bulldog chewing a wasp	To say that someone has a face like a bulldog chewing a wasp means that you find them very unattractive because they have a screwed-up ugly expression on their face. "Not only was he rude but he had a face like a bulldog chewing a wasp!
	Face like thunder	If someone has a face like thunder, they look very angry. "When Dad is really angry, he has a face like thunder!"
	Face like a wet weekend	If someone has a face like a wet weekend, they are wearing a sad expression and look miserable. "What's wrong with Pete? He's got a face like a wet weekend."
	Face only a mother could love	This is a humoristic way of saying that someone is ugly or not attractive. "The poor guy has a face only a mother could love."
	Face that would stop a clock	Someone who has a face that would stop a clock has a shockingly unattractive face. "You'll recognize him - he's tall and thin, with a face that would stop a clock!"
	Face the music	If you have to face the music, you have to accept the unpleasant consequences of your actions. "He was caught stealing. Now he has to face the music!"
	Face value	If you take something at its face value, you assume that it is genuinely what it appears to be. "The car seems to be in good condition, but don't take it at its face value; get a mechanic to check it out."
	Have a poker face.	If you have a poker face, you show no emotion at all. "In spite of the repeated details of the events, the criminal kept a poker face."
	Keep a straight face	If you keep a straight face, you look serious although you really want to laugh.
	Fair and square	If something is obtained or won fair and square, it is done in an honest and open manner, the rules are respected and there is no cheating or lying. "Peter won the competition fair and square - there was no doubt about the result."
	Fair hearing	When accused of wrongdoing, if someone gets a fair hearing, they get an opportunity to present evidence or give their side of the story, usually in court. "I can guarantee that you will get a fair hearing."
	Fair-weather friend	Someone who acts as a friend when times are good, and is not there when you are in trouble, is called a fair-weather friend. "I thought I could count on Bill, but I've discovered he's just a fair-weather friend."
	Fait accompli	This French term refers to something that has been done and cannot be changed. "He used his savings to buy a motorbike and then presented his parents with a fait accompli."
	Fall at the first hurdle	If you fall at the first hurdle, you fail to overcome the first difficulty encountered. "Scott fell at the first hurdle. He didn't study enough and failed his first exam."
	Fall between two stools	If something falls between two stools, it is neither totally one thing nor another, and is therefore unsatisfactory. "The book didn't sell because it fell between two stools; it appealed neither to historians nor to the general public.
	Fall by the wayside	If something falls by the wayside, people fail to finish it or stop trying to do it. "Local residents protested so strongly that plans for a new motorway fell by the wayside."
	Fall from grace	To say that someone has fallen from grace means that they have done something wrong, immoral or unacceptable, and as a result have lost their good reputation. "The Finance Minister fell from grace as a result of a sex scandal."
	Fall into one's lap	If something good falls into your lap, it happens to you without any effort on your part. "She's not making much effort to find work. Does she think a job will fall into her lap?"
	Fall into place	When different elements fall into place, they fit well together or become organized so that progress can be achieved in a satisfactory manner. "The preparatory work was difficult but gradually everything fell into place and the project was finished on time."
	Fall on deaf ears	If something such as a suggestion or a request falls on deaf ears, it is ignored. "I told him not to take risks but my advice fell on deaf ears."
	Fall on one's sword	If you fall on your sword, you take responsibility for, or accept the consequences of an unsuccessful or wrong action. "The organizer of the referendum resigned when the poor results were announced. It was said that he 'fell on his sword'."
	Fall off the back of a lorry	If you buy goods that have fallen off the back of a lorry, they are stolen goods. "Judging by the price of that camera, it must have fallen off the back of a lorry!"
	Fall over backwards	If you fall over backwards to accomplish something, you do everything you possibly can to please and impress. "Sally's mother fell over backwards to make her wedding reception a memorable event."
	Fall short of	If something proves inadequate or insufficient, or does not reach the required standard, it falls short of what is expected. "Sales of the new product fell short of the company's expectations."
	False move	In a dangerous or risky situation, if you make a false move, you do something which may have unpleasant consequences. "He is under close surveillance. If he makes one false move he'll be arrested."
	False pretences	If you obtain something under false pretences, you deceive others by lying about your identity, qualifications, financial or social position, in order to obtain what you want. "She obtained the interview under false pretences."
	Far be it from me (to do something)	This expression means that the speaker does not feel in a position to say or do something. (Usually said before giving advice or expressing an opinion). "Far be it from me to chose your friends, but I think you should avoid that man."
	Farm something out	If something such as work is farmed out, it is sent out to be done by others. "We farmed out the packaging to another company."
	Fast and furious	If an activity is fast and furious, it is done quickly and with a lot of energy. "Eager to win the race, the competitors came fast and furious around the bend."
	Fast talker	A person who speaks quickly and easily but cannot always be trusted is called a fast talker. "The salesman was a fast talker and persuaded the old lady to buy a new washing machine."
	Fast track something	If you decide to fast track something, such as a task or project, you give it high priority so that the objective is reached as quickly as possible. "In view of the number of homeless, it was decided to fast track the construction of low-cost housing."
	Fat cat	To refer to a rich and powerful person as a fat cat means that you disapprove of the way they use their money or power. "The place was full of fat cats on their big yachts."
	Fat chance	The expression fat chance is used to indicate that something is not very likely to happen. "The boss is thinking of me for the job? Fat chance!"
	The fat hits the fire/ the fat's in the fire	When trouble breaks out or a situation deteriorates as a result of something said or done , it is said that the fat hits the fire. "The situation was already tense, but the fat hit the fire when Larry was accused of cheating."
	To a fault	To say that somebody has a good quality to a fault means that they have a lot, or even too much, of that quality. "My aunt is generous to a fault, ready to help anyone to claims to be in need."
	Feast one's eyes on something	If you feast your eyes on something, you are delighted and gratified by what you see. "As he drove along the coast, he feasted his eyes on the beautiful scenery."
	A feather in one's cap	To describe someone's achievement as "a feather in their cap" means that it is something they can be proud of. "The overwhelming victory of the team was a "feather in the cap" for the new manager."
	Feather your nest	To say of someone that they are feathering their nest is to say that they are taking advantage of their position in order to obtain money so as to have a comfortable life.
	Feed the kitty	If you feed the kitty, you contribute to a collection of money called a "kitty" in order to help a good cause. "Come on - every little helps. You can afford to feed the kitty for a good cause!"
	Feel on top of the world	If you feel on top of the world, you feel wonderful or ecstatic about something. "I've been feeling on top of the world since I got the results - I'm qualified!"
	Feel the pinch	When someone feels the pinch, they begin to suffer from a lack of money. "With the drop in tourism, hotels and restaurants are beginning to feel the pinch."
	Back on your feet	If you are back on your feet, after an illness or an accident, you are physically healthy again.
	Drag one's feet	If you say that a person is dragging their feet, you think they are unnecessarily delaying a decision which is important to you.
	Find your feet	To say that someone in a new situation is finding their feet means that they are learning what to do and gaining self-confidence.
	Feet of clay	If someone who is admired is found to have a hidden weakness, fault or defect of character, they are said to have feet of clay. "No one is perfect. Many successful people have feet of clay."
	Get cold feet	If you get cold feet about something, you begin to hesitate about doing it; you are no longer sure whether you want to do it or not.
	Have itchy feet	A person who has itchy feet is someone who wants to move somewhere new or do something different.
	Keep one's feet on the ground	A person who keeps their feet on the ground continues to act in a sensible and practical way, even if they become successful.
	Think on one's feet	A person who thinks on their feet is capable of making good decisions without previous thinking or planning. "Good lawyers need to be able to think on their feet when pleading a case."
	Rushed off your feet.	If your are rushed off your feet, your are extremely busy. "I'd love to have lunch with you but we're rushed off our feet at the moment at the office."
	On the fence	When faced with a choice, a person who is on the fence has not yet reached a decision. "The candidates have such similar ideas that many electors are still on the fence."
	Fender bender	This expression refers to a minor car accident in which there is little damage and no injuries. "It's hard to believe that a small fender bender can cause a major traffic jam!"
	Fever pitch	If a situation or feeling reaches fever pitch, it becomes very intense and exciting. "Reaction to the affair has reached fever pitch all over the country."
	Few and far between	Items, places or events which are few and far between are rarely found or do not happen very often. "Restaurants in this part of the country are few and far between."
	Fiddling while Rome burns	If you say that somebody is fiddling while Rome burns, you mean that they are doing unimportant things while there are serious problems to be dealt with "His visit to the trade fair was 'fiddling while Rome burns' according to the strikers."
	Field day	A field day refers to a day, period or time of great excitement and activity. "Journalists will have a field day with the latest political scandal"
	Fifth wheel	This expression refers to a person who finds themselves in a situation where their presence is unnecessary and as a result they feel useless. "Everyone seemed to have a specific role except me. I felt like a fifth wheel."
	You can't fight the city hall	This expression means that it is useless to try to win a battle against a politician, establishment or bureaucracy in general. "Tom decided it was a waste of energy trying to obtain a tax refund - you can't fight the city hall!"
	Fight a losing battle	If someone is fighting a losing battle, they are trying to do something even when there is little chance of succeeding. "The headmaster is fighting a losing battle trying to ban mobile phones at school."
	Fight an uphill battle	A person faced with an uphill battle has to struggle against very unfavourable circumstances. "After the terrible accident, his recovery was an uphill battle all the way."
	Fight/argue like cat and dog	Two people who fight or argue like cat and dog frequently have violent arguments, even though they are fond of each other. "They fight like cat and dog but they're still together after 30 years."
	Fight tooth and nail	If you fight tooth and nail for something, you fight with all your energy. "The Transport Minister fought tooth and nail to have to have the proposed road safety law accepted."
	Fight shy of something	If you fight shy of something, such as a task, a problem or a duty, you want to avoid doing it or you are unwilling to confront it. "He had money problems for years but fought shy of asking his children for help."
	A figment of one's imagination	To refer to something as a figment of one's imagination means that an appearance, event or incident is not considered to be real but is only imaginary. "Other people saw the car, so it's not a figment of Tom's imagination!"
	Fine-tooth comb	To go over something with a fine-tooth comb means to examine it closely and thoroughly so as not to miss any details. "The police are examining the scene of the accident with a fine-tooth comb."
	Fine tuning	Small changes to something to improve it or make it work better are called fine tuning. "We are still fine tuning our new website and appreciate your patience."
	A finger in every pie	If someone has a finger in every pie, they are involved in many activities "For information about the town development project, you should talk to John Brown. He has a finger in every pie."
	Fire away	If you tell someone to fire away, you encourage them to begin to talk or ask questions. "If you've got any questions, just fire away!"
	Firing line	Someone who is in the firing line is in a position to be criticized because of their responsibilities or the position they hold. "The managing director of the bank is in the firing line since the fraud was discovered."
	First and foremost	This expression is used to state what you consider to be more important than anything else. "First and foremost I want to thank our hosts for their wonderful reception."
	First water	Something that is of the first water is of the finest or most exceptional quality (like being compared to a diamond). "The violinist gave a performance that was of the first water."
	First-hand/firsthand/at first hand	If you experience something yourself directly, without any intermediary, you experience it (at) first hand. "Getting to see the performance (at) first hand is much better than watching it on television."
	Fish in troubled waters	If you fish in troubled waters, you try to gain advantages for yourself from a disturbed state of affairs. "Between the declaration of independence and the first elections, some people were accused of fishing in troubled waters."
	Fish out of water	If you feel like a fish out of water, you feel uncomfortable because of an unfamiliar situation or unfamiliar surroundings. "As a non-golfer, I felt like a fish out of water at the clubhouse."
	Big fish in a small pond	This term is used to refer to an important or highly-ranked person in a small group or organization. "He could get a job with a big company but he enjoys being a big fish in a small pond."
	Have other fish to fry	If you have other fish to fry, you have more important things to do. "I don't think he'll attend the office party; he's got other fish to fry."
	Neither fish nor fowl	This is said to describe people or things that are difficult to classify, that are neither one thing nor another. "Interns are neither fish nor fowl. They are neither students nor fully qualified practitioners."
	Fishing expedition	If someone is on a fishing expedition, they are trying to obtain information in any way possible. "The lunch invitation was clearly a fishing expedition to obtain information about his private life."
	Fishing for compliments	When someone is obviously waiting for you to say something nice, they are fishing for compliments. "I know why she invited us to visit her hew house - she's just fishing for compliments."
	Fit as a fiddle	A person who is as fit as a fiddle is in an excellent state of health or physical condition. "My grandfather is still fit as a fiddle at the age of 90."
	Fit like a glove	If something fits you like a glove, it fits you perfectly. "I was lucky! The first skirt I tried on fitted me like a glove!"
	Fit the bill	If someone or something fits the bill, they are exactly right for for a particular situation. "They wanted a quiet place for the week-end and the country inn just fitted the bill."
	Fit for purpose	Something that is suitable for a particular function and is fully operational is said to be fit for purpose. "The mayor promised that the new leisure centre would be fit for purpose."
	In fits and starts	If you do something in fits and starts, you do it in an irregular manner, often stopping and starting again. "You'll never make progress in English if you work in fits and starts."
	Fit to be tied	Someone who is fit to be tied is extremely irritated, upset or angry. "Harry was fit to be tied when his dog dug up the flowers he had planted."
	Five-finger discount	If somebody gets a five-finger discount, they take something without paying. In other words, they steal. "How could he afford that watch?" "Who knows - perhaps with a five-finger discount!"
	Five o'clock shadow	This expression refers to a patch of stubble on the face of a man who hasn't shaved for at least a day. "He looked tired and had a five o'clock shadow."
	Fixed in your ways	People who are fixed in their ways do not want to change their normal way of doing things. "My grandparents are very fixed in their ways."
	Flag of convenience	If a ship, boat or yacht sails under a flag of convenience, it is registered in a foreign country in order to avoid regulations and taxes and reduce operating costs.
	Get/take flak	If you get or take flak, you receive severe criticism for something you have done. "He got a lot of flak for the way he handled the situation."
	Flea in one's ear	After an attempt at something, if you are sent away with a flea in your ear, you are angrily reprimanded or humiliated. "When he tried to put the blame on Pete, he was sent away with a flea in his ear."
	There are no flies on him!	To say that there are no flies on someone means that they understand quickly and cannot be tricked or deceived easily. "It's better to tell him all the facts. There are no flies on him."
	Flight of fancy	To refer to an idea or plan as a flight of fancy means that it is very imaginative but not at all practical or sensible. "He often comes up with good ideas but his latest proposal is just a flight of fancy!"
	Fling oneself into something	If you fling yourself into an activity, you do it with a lot of energy and enthusiasm. "Ever since she flung herself into the anti-pollution campaign, she rarely has a free moment!"
	Flog a dead horse	To say that someone is flogging a dead horse means that they are wasting time and effort trying to do or achieve something that is not possible. "Mark is flogging a dead horse trying to get his money reimbursed. The company has gone bankrupt!"
	Fly-by-night	A 'fly-by-night' person, business or venture is considered untrustworthy because they operate briefly and disappear overnight. "I bought it in one of those fly-by-night stores and now I can't exchange it. The place has closed down."
	On the fly	If you do something on the fly, you do it quickly, without thinking much about it, while doing something else. "I'm so busy I usually have lunch on the fly."
	Fly by the seat of your pants	If you fly by the seat of your pants, you do something without knowledge or experience, using only your instinct and hoping that you will succeed. "Without any formal training, he decided to fly by the seat of his pants and try his luck in New York."
	Fly in the face of	If an action or statement flies in the face of something, it is completely opposite to what is usual or expected. "His style of teaching flies in the face of the school's established methods."
	Fly in the ointment	The expression a fly in the ointment refers to a small problem or something that prevents a situation from being completely satisfactory. "Tony's poor English was a fly in the ointment when he applied for the job."
	Fly on the wall	This expression is used to describe a person who watches a situation without being noticed. "I'd like to be a fly on the wall when the management discusses my project."
	Fly off the handle	A person who flies off the handle becomes suddenly very angry. "Dad flew off the handle when I told him I had damaged his new car."
	It will never fly	To say that something will never fly means that it will not be successful. "He's got incredible ideas, but none that will ever fly!"
	With flying colours	To achieve something with flying colours means to do it very successfully. "My daughter passed the entrance exam with flying colours. I'm so proud of her!"
	Flying start	If something gets off to the flying start, it is immediately successful. "Sales of the book got off to a flying start and exceeded our expectations."
	Foam at the mouth	Someone who foams at the mouth is extremely angry about something. "The director was foaming at the mouth when he saw a picture of his children in the newspaper."
	Follow one's nose	If you follow your nose, you go straight ahead. (Also: follow your instinct in life). "The station is at the end of the road - just follow your nose."
	Follow in someone's footsteps	If you follow in someone's footsteps ( for example a parent), you lead a similar life or do the same job. "Lily followed in her mother's footsteps and became a teacher."
	Follow suit	If you follow suit, you do the same as somebody else has just done. The first robber held up his hands. The other two followed suit.
	Food for thought	If something gives you food for thought, it makes you think seriously about something. "The documentary on poverty in the world really gave me food for thought."
	Fool's errand	If you go on a fool's errand, you try to do something which is useless, unnecessary or has no chance of success. "I realized it was a fool's errand to look for a bank in such an isolated region."
	Fool's paradise	If someone is living in a fool's paradise, they are in a state of contentment that will not last because their happiness is based on illusion or false hope. "Lisa is living in a fool's paradise if she thinks her boss is going to marry her."
	A foot in the door	If you say that someone has a foot in the door, you mean that they have a small but successful start in something and will possibly do well in the future. "With today's unemployment, it's difficult to get a foot in the door in any profession."
	My foot!	This expression is used to show that you do not believe something that has just been said. "He said he had a summer home? My foot! I doubt if he owns a tent!"
	One foot in the grave	A person who is either very old or very ill and close to death is said to have one foot in the grave. "It's no use talking to the owner. The poor man has got one foot in the grave."
	Put one's foot down	To put one's foot down means to exert authority to prevent something from happening.
	Put one's foot in one's mouth	If you put your foot in your mouth, you do or say something that offends, upsets or embarrasses someone else. "She really put her foot in her mouth when she mentioned the housewarming party - Andy hadn't been invited!"
	Get a foothold	If you get a foothold somewhere, you secure a position for yourself in a business, profession or organisation. "The contract got the firm a foothold in the local administration."
	Footloose and fancy-free	A person who is footloose and fancy-free has few responsibilities or commitments of any kind and feels free to do as they please. "John will never get married. He says he prefers to be footloose and fancy-free."
	For the birds	If you think something is for the birds, you consider it to be uninteresting, useless, or not to be taken seriously. "As far as I'm concerned, his theory is for the birds!"
	Force of habit	When something is done out of force of habit, it has become automatic through frequent repetition. "Why do I always park here? It's force of habit I suppose."
	Force someone's hand	If you force someone's hand, you make them do something unwillingly or sooner than planned. "The interviewer forced his hand and made him reveal his relocation plans."
	Forewarned is forearmed	This expression means that if you know something is going to happen, you can be prepared for it. "The Chairman is going to attend the meeting tomorrow. Your presentation had better be good. Forewarned is forearmed.!"
	Forty winks	If you have forty winks, you have a short sleep or rest, generally during the day. "Dad likes to have forty winks after a game of golf."
	Foul one's own nest	If you act in a way that harms your own interests, your position or your reputation, you foul your own nest. "He fouled his own nest by wrongly accusing his boss."
	Fraught with danger	An activity or situation that is fraught with danger is full of risks or serious difficulties. "His journey across the mountains was fraught with danger."
	Free as a bird	If someone is free as a bird, they are completely free to do as they please. "My dad's very happy - he's free as a bird since he retired."
	A free-for-all	This term refers to an uncontrolled situation such as a discussion, argument or fight where everyone present can do or say what they like. "It started as a serious debate but turned into a free-for-all."
	A free hand	If you have a free hand, you have permission to make your own decisions, especially in a job. "My boss has given me a free hand in the choice of agent."
	There's no such thing as a free lunch	This expression means that nothing is free. If somebody helps you, they always expect some form of payment. "If you accept his offer, he'll be forever asking you for a favour. There's no such thing as a free lunch!"
	A free ride	Someone who gets a free ride benefits from a collective activity without participating in it. "Only those who share the work can share the benefits - nobody gets a free ride!"
	Of your own free will	If you do something of your own free will, you do it voluntarily, without any pressure from others. "He decided to tell the truth, and he did it of his own free will."
	Freeze somebody out	If you deliberately isolate someone, or prevent them from participating in a social or business activity by treating them unfairly or harshly, you freeze them out. "Pablo was treated unfairly. He was frozen out of the project by the rest of the team."
	French leave	If you leave an official or social event without notifying the person who invited you, you take French leave. "Is Bill coming back for the closing speech or has he taken French leave?"
	(As) fresh as a daisy	Someone who is as fresh as a daisy is lively and attractive, in a clean and fresh way. "I met Molly the other day. She looked as fresh as a daisy!"
	Freudian slip	This refers to a mistake made by a speaker which is considered to reveal their true thoughts or feelings. "So you got the job - I'm so sad - sorry, I mean glad!"
	Friends in high places	If you know important or influential people in business or government, you have friends in high places. "He wouldn't have succeeded without help from friends in high places."
	Have a frog in one's throat	A person who has a frog in their throat is unable to speak clearly because their throat is sore, or because they want to cough.
	From the word go	The expression 'from the word go' means from the very beginning of an activity. "Right from the word go he was rejected by the rest of the group."
	Front runner	In a contest, race or election, the front runner is the person who seems most likely to succeed or win. "Who are the front runners in the coming elections?"
	Out of the frying pan and into the fire.	This expression means to go from one difficult situation to another, usually even worse. "The flight was delayed because of snow. When the plane eventually took off, it had to turn back because of engine trouble - out of the frying pan into the fire!"
	Full of beans	A person who is full of beans is lively, active and healthy. "He may be getting old but he's still full of beans!"
	Full of hot air	A person who full of hot air is full of nonsense and talks a lot without saying anything worthwhile. "Don't listen to Tony. He's full of hot air!"
	Full of the joys of spring	If you are full of the joys of spring, you are happy, enthusiastic and full of energy. "Barbara is full of the joys of spring at the moment! Has she got a new boyfriend?"
	Full of piss and vinegar	People who are full of piss and vinegar are very lively, boisterous or full of youthful vitality. "I had to look after a group of kids full of piss and vinegar."
	In full swing	When something, such as an event, gets into full swing, it is at its busiest or liveliest time. "When we got back to the office, the Christmas party was in full swing."
	Full as a tick	If someone is as full as a tick, they have eaten or drunk too much. "The little boy ate biscuits and drank lemonade until he was as full as a tick."
	Funny business	An activity which is conducted in a deceitful, dishonest or unethical manner is called funny business. "I've got suspicions about that association. I think they're up to some funny business."
	Fur coat and no knickers	A person who tries to appear distinguished but has no real class is referred to as "fur coat and no knickers". "Don't let her impress you. She's what we call 'fur coat and no knickers'!