English Idioms and Idiomatic Expressions
Alphabetical List of Idioms - F, page 3
from: 'fall on sword'
to: 'fat cat'
- fall on one's sword
- If you fall on
your sword, you accept the consequences
of an unsuccessful or wrong action.
"The organiser of the referendum resigned when the poor results were announced. It was said that he 'fell on his sword'."
- If you fall on
your sword, you accept the consequences
of an unsuccessful or wrong action.
- fall off the back of a lorry
- Goods that have fallen off the back of a lorry are
stolen goods.
"Judging by the price of that camera, it must have fallen off the back of a lorry!"
- Goods that have fallen off the back of a lorry are
stolen goods.
- 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."
- If you fall over backwards to accomplish something,
you do everything you possibly can to please and impress.
- fall short
- 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."
- If something proves inadequate or insufficient, or does not
reach the required standard, it falls short of what is expected.
- 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."
- In a dangerous or risky situation, if you make a false
move, you
- 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 get what you want.
"The journalist obtained the interview under false pretences. He said he was from the social services."
- If you obtain something under false pretences,
you deceive others by lying about your identity, qualifications, financial or
social position, in order to get what you want.
- take a fancy to
- If you take a fancy to someone or something, you
develop a fondness for them or begin to like them.
"I think Paul has taken a fancy to the new intern!"
- If you take a fancy to someone or something, you
develop a fondness for them or begin to like them.
- far be it from me
- 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 choose your friends, but I think you should avoid that man."
- This expression means that the speaker does not feel in a
position to say or do something.
- farm something out
- If something, such as work, is farmed out,
it is sent away to be done by others.
"We farmed out the packaging to another company."
- If something, such as work, is farmed out,
it is sent away to be done by others.
- 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."
- If an activity is fast and furious, it is done quickly
and with a lot of energy.
- 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 who persuaded the old lady to buy a new washing machine."
- A person who speaks quickly and easily but cannot always be
trusted is called a fast talker.
- 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."
- 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.
- 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."
- 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.
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