AMERICAN IDIOMS (F)
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Idioms starting with F
Here is our list of popular "F" idioms that are used in American English:
(To) face the music:
To accept the (unpleasant) consequences of what you have done.
Example: "After years of bad decision making, the CEO finally had to face the music."
Fair and square: Completely fairly.
Example: "He won fair and square."
Fair-weather friend
A person who is only your friend when things are going well for you.
(To) fall flat (on one's face):
To fail. To be unsuccessful.
Example: "The initiative fell flat on its face."
Fall for (v.): Believe (in a gullible way).
Example: "I'm not going to fall for that old trick."
(To) fall into place:
To become organized; to fit together.
Example: "Once I started meditating, everything in my life began to fall into place."
Fall short (v.): To not be enough.
Example: "His efforts fell short."
(A) falling out:
A disagreement/break in a friendship.
Example: "We had a falling out over what she said."
(A) far cry:
Very different (often in a worse way).
Example: "This wine is nice, but it's a far cry from the wine we had yesterday."
(To) feel like a new person:
To feel refreshed, rejuvenated.
(To) feel out of place:
To feel like you don't belong.
Example: "We went to Mary's party last night. We didn't really know anyone, so we felt a little out of place."
(A) fifth wheel:
Useless, out of place, unnecessary.
Example: "There were only couples there. I felt like a fifth wheel."
(To) fill someone's shoes:
To replace someone. To do something someone else used to do.
Example: "Cathy has been working here for 20 years. It's going to be hard to find someone to fill her shoes."
(A) fine line:
Not much difference.
Example: "Sometimes there's a fine line between love and infatuation."
First and foremost:
First and most importantly.
Example: "First and foremost, you have to treat every customer with respect."
First thing:
Before anything else.
Example: "Call me first thing tomorrow morning."
(To) fish for a compliment:
To try very hard to get a compliment from someone.
Example: "Stop fishing for a compliment. It's really annoying."
Fishy (adj.): Suspicious.
Example: "There's something fishy about the way he's behaving."
(To) fix someone (some food - like cocoa, oatmeal, etc.):
To prepare (some food) for someone.
Example: "I'll fix you a cup of cocoa."
Flat broke:
Very poor. Having absolutely no money.
Example: "I'm flat broke, but I don't care."
Flip out (v.): To get very upset (to the point of starting to scream, etc.); Freak out.
Flip side: Opposite/other side.
Examples: "the flip side of the coin", "the flip side of this argument."
Folks (n.pl.): Parents.
Example: "My folks live in Atlanta."
(To) follow one's heart:
To act according to your feelings/ emotions.
Example: "I couldn't decide what to do, so I just followed my heart."
Food for thought:
Something to think about.
For what it's worth: This is basically like saying "I don't know whether or not this of any value, but..."
Example: "For what it's worth, I never wanted things to end up like this."
(A) fork in the road:
A point when a road splits in two directions.
Example: "They came to a fork in the road, and had to decide whether to go left or right."
Freak (n.): Strange person. (*fairly negative/derogatory these days*)
Freebie (n.): Something you get for free, that you don't have to pay for.
Freak out (b.): To get very upset (to the point of starting to scream, etc.)
Example: "When he found out that she had sold the furniture, he freaked out."
Free-and-easy:
Casual. Not very serious.
Example: "Sarah was looking for a free-and-easy relationship."
(A) fresh pair of eyes:
A new reader, someone who hasn't seen something before.
Example: "Hey can you come check out this report? We need a fresh pair of eyes."
(A) full plate:
A busy schedule.
Example: "P1: Mark can you help me with this project? P2: Not really, I've got a full plate right now."
Fun and games:
Playing around. Time spent doing worthless things.
Example: "OK, Neil, the fun and games are over. It's time to get down to work."
