This page gathers the 4,686 dictionary entries of which at least one sense is labelled “Idiomatic” by Wiktionary. The definition shown is that sense; each word leads to its full entry. Page 14 of 47: from “fighting chance” to “for Scotland”.
- fighting chance noun A chance that is dependent on success in a struggle, with the implication that such success is not unattainable.
- fighting spirit noun One's willpower or ability to continue partaking in difficult activities or to continue fighting against insurmountable odds.
- figurehead verb To lead (something) nominally and with little to no actual power.
- file away verb To cause oneself to remember (something); to avoid expressing a feeling, fact or idea until an appropriate time.
- file off the serial numbers verb To alter identifiable details in a creative work in order to conceal its origin.
- fill in verb To inform somebody, especially to supply someone missing or missed information.
- fill in the blank noun A placeholder allowing for any of a variety of possible answers or a single elicited answer.
- fill one's boots verb To perform at a high level in one's official role.
- fill up verb To annoy, or displease, by taunting, or by excessive nagging.
- filter down verb (by extension) Of information, or resources; to move slowly down to lower levels of an organisation, or population.
- filter up verb Of information, knowledge or practice; to move slowly up to other levels of an organisation, or population.
- final cut noun In the movie industry, the final released version of a film.
- find another gear verb To suddenly achieve an extra burst of athletic performance, especially after a sustained period of competitive exertion.
- find it in one's heart verb To be sufficiently compassionate or gracious (to do something, especially to forgive someone or be willing to help them in some way).
- find one's place verb To discover one's vocation, purpose, and/or sense of belonging to or passion for something.
- find oneself verb To learn, or attempt to learn, the essence or nature of one's character and the aims or desires one pursues in life.
- find out verb To discover, as by asking or investigating.
- fine print noun The details, restrictions, terms, or conditions, especially of a contract, often printed in very small type.
- finest hour noun A point in time or a relatively brief period of time when an especially distinguished, admirable, or effective set of actions is performed.
- finger to the wind noun An attention to or focus on or awareness of current or prevailing trends, public opinion, or shifting circumstances.
- finger-fed adj Of a person, pampered or overindulged.
- finger-length noun The length of a finger (used as a measure).
- finish with verb To put aside, break all relations with, or reject finally.
- fire drill noun Any pointless, unproductive, useless, or chaotic activity.
- fire hose noun Any fast, heavy stream (e.g. of information).
- fire sale noun A clearance sale at greatly reduced prices, often at losses.
- fire-breathing adj caustic, vitriolic or scathing.
- firing line noun The vanguard of an activity.
- firm up verb To make (tentative plans) more definite.
- first among equals noun A person or position that is formally of equal rank to others in a group, but nonetheless takes a leading role within that group.
- first and last noun A person's combined given name and surname.
- first annual phrase Being the first occurrence of an event that is scheduled or hoped to become annual.
- first love noun The thing, place, or activity of which one is fondest; one's most fundamental interest or attachment.
- first mile noun The initial stage of delivery of goods, etc., from the seller or producer to a distribution centre, often involving greater effort or…
- first off adv Firstly; before anything else. Often used to introduce the first in a list of points to be made in conversation.
- first port of call noun The first place to go to start a process.
- first-mover disadvantage noun A situation in which a company or individual that creates or introduces a new idea, product, or service is later at a disadvantage because…
- first-rate adj Superb, exceptional; of the best sort; very high quality.
- fish or cut bait verb To make a decision, especially after a period of delay; to either take action now or forgo the opportunity.
- fish out verb To search for by rummaging, and then extract (an item from e.g. a container); to obtain.
- fish out of water noun A person in unfamiliar and often uncomfortable surroundings.
- fishing expedition noun A search for information, especially incriminating information, that is conducted without specific direction or goal, in the hope that…
- fist magnet noun Someone who makes others want to hit them, typically through being annoying or otherwise unpleasant.
- five-by-five adj Loud and clear.
- five-star adj Of the best quality.
- fix someone's wagon verb To cause injury, distress, or inconvenience to someone, especially as punishment or as a comeuppance.
- flagellate verb To harshly chide or chastise, to reprimand.
- flame up verb To suddenly become extremely angry.
- flash for cash adj Pertaining to a scam where a motorist flashes their headlights to indicate to another driver to proceed against normal give-way rules, then…
- flat chat adv At maximum capability, intensity, or speed.
- flat on one's back adj Without recourse; helpless.
- flat out adv At top speed.
- flat strap adv At maximum capability, intensity, or speed.
- flatten out verb To become more even.
- flavor of the week noun A fad; someone or something that is held in esteem or receives attention for a short amount of time.
- flesh one's maiden sword verb To experience or succeed in combat or struggle for the first time, as in the military or in politics.
- flight of fancy noun An idea, narrative, suggestion, etc., which is extremely imaginative and which appears to be entirely unrealistic, untrue, or impractical…
- flip one's wig verb To become very angry.
- flip the bird verb To make a rude or obscene gesture (at somebody); particularly, to extend the middle finger.
- flip-flop verb To alternate back and forth between directly opposite opinions, ideas, or decisions.
- flog a dead horse verb To attempt to get more out of something that cannot give more; to attempt to arouse fresh interest in something that is either hopeless or…
- flog a dead pony verb To attempt to get more out of something that cannot give more; to attempt to arouse fresh interest in something that is either hopeless or…
- flood the zone verb To fill a relevant region of the field of play.
- floor it verb To depress the accelerator to the maximum extent.
- flunk out verb To fail to finish school, or a given subject, program or course, due to academic shortcomings; i.e., to have too many flunking or failing…
- flush out verb To drive out or expose something or someone, as a game bird or other game animal from cover.
- fly by verb To pass or go past quickly, often without much interaction
- fly by the seat of one's pants verb To pilot an aircraft without the aid of instruments and without a flight plan, using only instinct, visual observation, and practical…
- fly in the ointment noun Something (especially a minor thing) which ruins or spoils everything else, or makes it less pleasant; a nuisance or problem; a…
- fly low verb To have one's fly (zipper) undone.
- fly off verb To flee rapidly; to run away.
- fly the flag verb To support one's country enthusiastically.
- fly too close to the sun verb To become overly ambitious or greedy; to overreach oneself; to reach for something unattainable or unachievable.
- fly-by-night noun A person or business that appears and/or disappears rapidly, appearing untrustworthy, or giving an impression of transience.
- flying start noun An especially good start.
- fog a mirror verb To be alive.
- fold up verb To make or become more compact by folding.
- follow someone off a cliff verb To follow (a leader or a de facto leader) without question or thought, leading to potentially disastrous consequences.
- follow suit verb To follow an example; to imitate or copy the actions of another.
- follow through verb To execute or complete a commitment.
- food baby noun A protruding belly resulting from the consumption of a large quantity of food; the contents of one's digestive system causing the…
- food chain noun A hierarchy.
- food noise noun A mental preoccupation with food that is differentiable from hunger and from cravings but tends to urge people to overeat.
- fool around verb To engage in frivolous behaviour; to monkey around.
- fool's errand noun A foolish undertaking, especially one that is purposeless, fruitless, nonsensical, or certain to fail.
- foot voting noun Expressing one's preferences through one's actions, by voluntarily participating in or withdrawing from an activity, group, or process…
- footgun verb To shoot oneself in the foot.
- for a fact adv Without doubt.
- for Britain prep_phrase Very well or for a long time.
- for England prep_phrase Very well or for a long time.
- for goodness' sake prep_phrase Used to express frustration, exasperation, annoyance.
- for goodness' sakes intj Used to express frustration, exasperation, annoyance.
- for heaven's sake intj Expresses frustration, exasperation, annoyance, or the urgency of an instruction.
- for Ireland prep_phrase Very well or for a long time.
- for keeps prep_phrase With a strong competitive resolve to win or succeed, as in sports or business.
- for life prep_phrase Very fast or strenuously, as if to save one's life.
- for once prep_phrase For the first time, after many instances to the contrary; in a rare exception to the rule; as an exception to the usual.
- for one thing prep_phrase Used to introduce one reason or example among potentially several reasons for something that has been stated or is about to be explained.
- for one's life prep_phrase Desperately
- for Scotland prep_phrase Very well or for a long time.