This page gathers the 5,691 dictionary entries of which at least one sense is labelled “Figuratively” by Wiktionary. The definition shown is that sense; each word leads to its full entry. Page 19 of 57: from “fizzy” to “fox in the henhouse”.
- fizzy adj Lively, vivacious.
- flag of convenience noun Registration of a ship in a country chosen for its low taxes, permissive regulations, etc.
- flail about verb To make efforts that are strenuous but disorganized and ineffectual.
- flak noun Adverse criticism.
- flame out verb To fail, usually spectacularly.
- flamekeeper noun One who keeps some idea alive.
- flameout noun The act of quitting or failing, especially due to overwork or in a dramatic manner.
- flammable adj Very likely to cause fighting or controversy; extremely contentious.
- flare noun A sudden eruption or outbreak; a flare-up.
- flash noun A sudden and brilliant burst, as of genius or wit.
- flash point noun A hotspot; a dangerous place of violent political unrest.
- flat adj Lacking liveliness or action; depressed; uninteresting; dull and boring.
- flat-earther noun A person who believes or advocates an outlandish, discredited theory; a person who refuses to acknowledge the truth despite overwhelming…
- flat-footed adj Blunt and unsubtle; lacking finesse; clumsy.
- flatfooted adj Unprepared, unready.
- flatline noun An unchanging state, as indicated in a graph of a variable over time.
- flavor noun A kind or type.
- fleabitten adj wretched or sordid; mean
- fledgeless adj Not fully formed; incipient.
- fledgling noun An immature, naïve or inexperienced person.
- flesh and blood adj Real; substantial.
- fletcherize verb To consume, to devour, to bite, to chew over.
- flex one's muscles verb To show off one's strength or skills.
- flicker noun A short moment.
- flimsy adj Of an argument, explanation, etc.: ill-founded, unconvincing, weak; also, unimportant; paltry, trivial.
- fling noun An attempt, a try.
- flint noun Anything figuratively hard.
- flinty adj Showing a lack of emotion.
- flippy-flop noun A rapid or unpredictable shift in behavior.
- float verb To circulate.
- floater noun A person who frequently changes where they live; a drifter, a vagrant.
- floaty adj Of music: light and relaxing.
- flood noun A large number or quantity of anything appearing more rapidly than can easily be dealt with.
- floodgate noun Anything that controls or limits an outpouring of people, emotion, etc.
- flooding noun Emotional overwhelm sometimes leading to a primal state of rage or panic.
- floored adj Finished; done for.
- flopover noun A change from one position to another.
- flotsam and jetsam noun A collection of miscellaneous items or fragments of little importance.
- flouncy adj Calling attention; flashy, showy; also, elaborate; fancy.
- flounderish adj (of a speech) moving from topic to topic, not focused
- flower noun Credit, recognition.
- flower of life noun Youth.
- flowering noun The period of time during which someone or something is at its peak.
- fluctuate verb To rise and fall as a wave; to be tossed up and down the waves.
- fluff one's lines verb To make a mistake.
- flurry noun Any sudden activity; a stir.
- flutter noun A sound that spreads in the manner of a wave or ripple.
- fly high verb To be elated; thrilled.
- fly the coop verb To depart hastily or unannounced; to escape or flee.
- fly-eyed adj That has a composite or multifaceted view.
- flyby noun A brief visit.
- flyweight noun Small, light or unimportant.
- foam noun The sea.
- foam at the mouth verb To rage, vent one's anger.
- foam up verb To take place, arise, erupt, develop.
- fodder noun Stuff; material; something that serves as inspiration or encouragement, especially for satire or humour.
- fog noun A state of mind characterized by lethargy and confusion.
- foggy adj Confused, befuddled, or vague.
- foil noun In literature, theatre/theater, etc., a character who helps emphasize the traits of the main character and who usually acts as an opponent…
- fold verb To cover up, to conceal.
- fomes noun Anything which similarly facilitates the spread of something similarly deleterious.
- font noun A source, wellspring, fount.
- food noun Anything that nourishes or sustains.
- fool's gold noun Something worthless that deceptively seems valuable.
- foot soldier noun A rank and file member of an institution, or supporter of a cause.
- football noun An item of discussion, particularly in a back-and-forth manner
- football player noun A large, intimidating male.
- foothole noun A foothold.
- footprint noun What a person has done before, as a profession or lifestyle, serving as a model for others.
- footstep noun The indications or waypoints of a course or direction taken.
- footstool noun Anything trodden upon or treated as subservient.
- for free prep_phrase Without effort; as a useful side-effect of something that was to be done anyway.
- force of nature noun A thing or person that exhibits qualities which appear to be beyond outside control and which have consequential effects.
- forcing house noun Any place that promotes early development.
- forearm verb To arm in preparation.
- forearmed adj Armed in advance, in preparation for anticipated defensive moves (such as fighting, lawyering, or counterarguing).
- foremother noun A female predecessor, especially one of an earlier generation.
- forescent verb To detect or become aware of (something) in advance.
- foreshock noun Any shock or disturbance that precedes an event
- foretide noun An early tide (tidal surge).
- foretouch noun A touch made in advance; (by extension) a prelude or foreshadow.
- fork noun A decision point.
- fork in the road noun A critical moment or point in life or in a situation where one must make an important decision between two or more divergent options or…
- form book noun The past performance of something or someone.
- Forrest Gump noun A simple-minded but good-hearted person who becomes involved in historically significant events by chance; (derogatory, potentially…
- forset verb To upset; hinder.
- fortify verb To impart fortitude or moral strength to (someone or their determination, or something); to encourage.
- forward adj Moving in the desired direction of progress.
- fossil noun Anything extremely old, extinct, or outdated.
- fossilization noun The process of becoming fixed, unchanging, and out of date.
- fossilize verb To become inflexible or outmoded.
- foundation noun The result of the work to begin something; that which stabilizes and allows an enterprise or system to develop.
- foundation stone noun The basis of something.
- fount noun That from which something proceeds; an origin, a source.
- fountain noun A source or origin of a flow (e.g., of favors or knowledge).
- fountainhead noun An abundant source of knowledge, etc.
- four flush verb To bluff.
- four-point verb To restrain (a prisoner or patient, etc.) on a bed or trolley with cuffs at both wrists and both ankles.
- fox noun A cunning person.
- fox in the henhouse noun Someone untrustworthy placed in a position of trust in which they will be harmful, damaging or detrimental for their own personal gain.