English Idioms and Idiomatic Expressions
Alphabetical List of Idioms - F, page 2
from: 'fair and square'
to: 'fall on deaf ears'
- 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.
"Gavin won the competition fair and square - there was no doubt about the result."
- 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.
- 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."
- 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.
- 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."
- 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.
- fait accompli
- The French expression 'fait accompli' 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."
- The French expression 'fait accompli' refers to
something that has been done and cannot be changed.
- fall at 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."
- If you fall at the first hurdle, you fail to overcome the first difficulty encountered.
- fall between 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."
- If something falls between two stools, it is neither totally one thing nor another, and is therefore unsatisfactory.
- fall by the wayside
- If a plan or project falls by the wayside, it remains unfinished or people stop trying to do it.
"Local residents protested so strongly that plans for a new motorway fell by the wayside."
- If a plan or project falls by the wayside, it remains unfinished or people stop trying to do it.
- fall flat
- If a joke, a story or a form of entertainment falls flat,
it does not amuse people, or fails to have the effect that was intended.
"He made a few attempts at humour during his speech but most of his jokes fell flat."
- If a joke, a story or a form of entertainment falls flat,
it does not amuse people, or fails to have the effect that was intended.
- 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."
- 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.
- fall into one's lap
- If something good falls into your lap,
it happens to you without any effort on your part.T
"She's not making much effort to find work. Does she think a job is going to fall into her lap?"
- If something good falls into your lap,
it happens to you without any effort on your part.T
- fall into place
- When different elements fall into place, they fit well together or become organised 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."
- When different elements fall into place, they fit well together or become organised so that progress can be achieved in a satisfactory manner.
- fall on deaf ears
- If something you say falls on deaf ears, it is either ignored or attracts no attention.
"Her warning about the need to repair the roof fell on deaf ears."
- If something you say falls on deaf ears, it is either ignored or attracts no attention.
previous page... next page ...
More Idioms:
alphabetical lists F ...
more alphabetical lists...