American Heritage Dictionary of Idioms

follow in someone's footsteps Also, follow in someone's tracks. Follow someone's example or guidance. For example, Dean hoped his son would follow in his footsteps and become an economist, or Jane tried to follow in her mentor's tracks. [Mid-1500s]

follow one's nose

Go straight ahead, as in To get to the restaurant, just follow your nose down Baker Avenue. [Late 1600s]

follow out

Bring to a conclusion, carry out. For example, The second volume simply followed out the theories presented in the first, or He instructed them to follow out their orders to the letter. This idiom is dying out. [Mid-1700s]

follow suit

Imitate or do as someone else has done, as in Bill decided to leave for the rest of the day, and Mary followed suit. This term comes from card games in which one must play a card from the same suit as the one led. [Mid-1800s]

follow the crowd

Go along with the majority, do what most others are doing. For example, Make your own decision?

don't just follow the crowd.

follow through

1. In sports such as tennis or golf, carry a stroke to completion after striking the ball. For example,

You don't follow through on your backhand, so it goes into the net. [Late 1800s] 2. Carry an object, project, or intention to completion; pursue fully. For example, She followed through on her promise to reorganize the department. Also see FOLLOW UP, def. 1.

follow up

1. Carry to completion. For example, I'm following up their suggestions with concrete proposals.

Also see FOLLOW THROUGH. 2. Increase the effectiveness or enhance the success of something by further action. For example, She followed up her interview with a phone call. [Late 1700s]

food for thought

An idea or issue to ponder, as in That interesting suggestion of yours has given us food for thought. This metaphoric phrase, transferring the idea of digestion from the stomach to mulling something over in the mind, dates from the late 1800s, although the idea was also expressed somewhat differently at least three centuries earlier.

fool

hand. In addition to the idioms beginning with FOOL, also see MAKE A FOOL OF;

NOBODY'S FOOL; NO FOOL LIKE AN OLD FOOL; NOT SUFFER FOOLS GLADLY; PLAY THE FOOL; TAKE FOR (A FOOL). Also see under FOOLISH.

fool and his money are soon parted, a

A silly or stupid person readily wastes money. For example, Albert is known for giving waiters enormous tips?

a fool and his money are soon parted. This proverbial expression has been cited again and again since the mid-1500s.

fool around

1. Also, monkey around. Engage in idle or casual activity, putter. For example, Jim loved to fool around with his computer, or She was monkeying around with some figures in hopes of balancing the budget. [Second half of 1800s] 2. Engage in frivolous activity, waste time. For example,

Instead of studying, he spends all his spare time fooling around. Also see FOOL AWAY. 3.

Engage in flirting or casual sexual acts; also, engage in adultery. For example, He caught the two teenagers fooling around in the basement. [1830s]

fool away

Squander, waste money or time, as in He was fooling away the entire afternoon. [Early 1600s] Also

see FOOL AROUND, def. 2.

foolish

hand. see PENNY WISE AND POUND FOOLISH.

fool's errand

A fruitless mission or undertaking, as in Asking the bank for yet another loan was clearly a fool's errand. [c. 1700]

fool's paradise

State of delusive contentment or false hope. For example, Joan lived in a fool's paradise, looking forward to a promotion she would never get. This expression was first recorded in 1462.

fools rush in where angels fear to tread

Ignorant or inexperienced individuals get involved in situations that wiser persons would avoid, as in

I've never heard this symphony and here I am conducting it?

oh well, fools rush in where angels fear to tread, or He tried to mediate their unending argument?

fools rush in. This expression, so well known it is sometimes shortened as in the second example, is a quotation from Alexander Pope's Essay on Criticism (1709): "No place so sacred from such fops is barr'd . . . Nay, fly to altars; there they'll talk you dead; For fools rush in where angels fear to

tread."

foot

hand. In addition to the idioms beginning with FOOT, also see BOUND HAND AND

FOOT; CAUGHT FLATFOOTED; GET OFF ON THE WRONG FOOT; NOT TOUCH WITH A TEN-FOOT POLE; ONE FOOT IN THE GRAVE; ON FOOT; ON THE RIGHT FOOT; PLAY FOOTSIE; PUT ONE'S BEST FOOT FORWARD; PUT ONE'S FOOT DOWN; PUT ONE'S FOOT IN IT; SET FOOT; SHOE IS ON THE OTHER FOOT; SHOOT ONESELF IN THE FOOT; WAIT ON HAND AND FOOT. Also see under FEET.

foot in both camps, have a

Support or have good relations with two opposing sides. For example, He had a foot in both camps, making donations to candidates in both parties. In this expression camp alludes to encampments of enemy troops in a battle. [First half of 1900s]

foot in one's mouth, put one's

Say something foolish, embarrassing, or tactless. For example, Jane put her foot in her mouth when she called him by her first husband's name. This notion is sometimes put as having foot-in-mouth disease, as in He has a bad case of foot-in-mouth disease, always making some tactless remark. The first expression dates from about 1900. The variant, dating from the mid-1900s, is a play on the foot-andmouth (some-times called hoof-and-mouth) disease that afflicts cattle, causing eruptions to break out around the mouth and hoofs.

foot in the door, get one's

Achieve an initial stage; succeed with a first step. For example, I think I could do well in an interview once I get my foot in the door with an appointment. This term alludes to the door-to-door salesperson or canvasser who blocks the door with one foot so it cannot be closed.

footloose and fancy-free

Having no attachments, especially romantic ones, and free to do as one pleases. For example,

When I was in my twenties, footloose and fancy-free, I would travel at the drop of a hat. Both of these words have long been used separately; their pairing dates only from the 1900s.

footstep

hand. see FOLLOW IN SOMEONE'S FOOTSTEPS.

foot the bill

Pay the bill, settle the accounts, as in The bride's father was resigned to footing the bill for the wedding. This expression uses foot in the sense of "add up and put the total at the foot, or bottom, of an account." [Colloquial; early 1800s]

for

Very cheaply, for little money, especially for less than something is worth. For example, "I know a man . . . sold a goodly manor for a song" (Shakespeare, All's Well That Ends Well, 3:2). This idiom alludes to the pennies given to street singers or to the small cost of sheet music. [Late 1500s]

for a wonder

Surprisingly, strange to say, as in For a wonder he didn't argue with the waiter about the bill. [Late 1700s]

for better or for worse

Under good or bad circumstances, with good or bad effect. For example, For better or for worse he trusts everyone. This term became widely familiar because it appears in the marriage service of the Book of Common Prayer (1549): "With this ring I thee wed, for richer or poorer, in sickness and in health, for better or worse, til death do us part." [Late 1300s]

forbid

hand. see GOD FORBID.

forbidden fruit

Unlawful pleasure or enjoyment; illicit love. For example, After Mary

moved in with John, Tom began courting her?

forbidden fruit is sweet, I guess, or Smoking behind the woodshed, that's a case of forbidden fruit.

This expression alludes to Adam and Eve's violation of God's commandment not to touch fruit from the tree of knowledge, which resulted in their expulsion from the Garden of Eden (Genesis 3:6). In the form forbidden fruit is sweet it appeared in numerous early English proverb collections.

force

hand. In addition to the idioms beginning with FORCE, also see BRUTE FORCE;

DRIVING FORCE; IN FORCE; JOIN FORCES; RECKON WITH (FORCE TO BE RECKONED WITH).

for certain Also, for sure. Without doubt. For example, I can't tell for certain if this is the right color, or I know for sure that she has a new car. The first term dates from the early 1300s. The variant, dating from the late 1500s, is also used colloquially to express agreement or assert the truth of a statement, as in Mary is really bossy.??

That's for sure, or Are you coming to the party?For sure I am.

force someone's hand

Compel someone to act or speak prematurely or against his or her will. For example, He didn't want to decide just then, but the board forced his hand. This expression probably alludes to the hand (the cards) held in a game such as whist or poker, in which a player is compelled to play some card from his hand or to reveal his hand. [Mid-1800s]

1. For a very long time, as in He's been working on that book forever and a day. This hyperbolic expression probably originated as a corruption of the now obsolete for ever and ay. Shakespeare used it in The Taming of the Shrew (4:4): "Farewell for ever and a day." Today it is mainly a substitute for "very long time." [c. 1600] 2. Incessantly, ceaselessly, as in Will this racket never end? It's been going on forever and a day. [Colloquial; first half of 1900s]

forewarned is forearmed

Knowledge in advance enables one to be prepared, as in Let me know when he's in town so I can take the phone off the hook?

forewarned is forearmed. This expression originated as a Latin proverb, Praemonitus, praemunitus, which was translated into English by the early 1500s. It soon was put to broader use than its original military applications.

for example Also, for instance. As an illustration of something, as in Dress casually, in blue jeans, for example, or This program has problems?

for instance, it's hard to retrieve lost data. The first expression, which dates from the late 1500s, is used throughout this book to illustrate how an idiom is used. The variant dates from the mid-1600s.

for fear of Also, for fear that. In order to avoid or prevent, in case of. For example, They closed all the windows for fear of rain. The variant is always used before a clause, as in She wouldn't let her children climb trees for fear that they would fall. The first term dates from the late 1400s, the second from about 1600.

for free

Without charge, gratis, as in You can't expect the doctor to treat you for free. [Colloquial; c. 1900]

for fun

1. Also, in fun. As a joke, not seriously. For example, For fun the children told the teacher it was a holiday, or Their teasing was just in fun. [Mid-1800s] 2. for the fun of it; for kicks. For pleasure or excitement. For example, He played basketball for the fun of it, or They drove around for hours,

just for kicks. Also see FOR THE HELL OF IT.

forget

hand. In addition to the idiom beginning with FORGET, also see FORGIVE AND

FORGET.

forget it

Overlook it, it's not important; you're quite mistaken. This colloquial imperative is used in a variety of ways. For example, in Thanks so much for helping?

Forget it, it was nothing, it is a substitute for "don't mention it" or YOU' ?

RE WELCOME; in Stop counting the changeforget it! it means "stop doing

something unimportant"; in You think assembling this swingset was easy?

forget it! it means ''it was not at all easy"; and in Forget it?

you'll never understand this theorem it means that the possibility of your understanding it is hopeless. [c. 1900]

forget oneself

Lose one's reserve, temper, or self-restraint; do or say something out of keeping with one's position or character. For example, A teacher should never forget herself and shout at the class.

Shakespeare used it in Richard II (3:2): "I had forgot myself: am I not king?" [Late 1500s]

forgive and forget

Both pardon and hold no resentment concerning a past event. For example, After Meg and Mary decided to forgive and forget their differences, they became good friends. This phrase dates from the 1300s and was a proverb by the mid-1500s. For a synonym, see LET BYGONES BE

BYGONES.

for God's sake hand. Also, for goodness sake. See FOR THE SAKE OF, def. 3.

for good Also, for good and all. Permanently, forever. For example, I'm moving to Europe for good. [1500s] Also see FOR KEEPS.

for good measure

In addition to the required amount. For example, Whenever she bakes she adds a little more cinnamon for good measure, or He didn't argue with my price, so I gave him some extra supplies for good measure.

for heaven's sake

hand. see FOR THE SAKE OF, def. 3.

for keeps

1. For the winner to retain, as in You can't take the marbles back; we were playing

for keeps. [Mid-1800s] 2. For an indefinitely long time, forever, as in She is leaving town for keeps. 3. In earnest, seriously, as in We're separating for keeps. [Late 1800s]

fork over Also, fork out or up. Hand over, pay up. For example, It's time you forked over what you owe, or He forked out a hundred for that meal, or Fork up or we'll sue. [Slang; early 1800s]

for love or money

hand. see NOT FOR LOVE OR MONEY.

form

hand. In addition to the idiom beginning with FORM, also see IMITATION IS THE

SINCEREST FORM OF FLATTERY; RUN TO FORM; TRUE TO FORM.

form an opinion

Make up one's mind or decide what one thinks about something. For example, I need more facts before I can form an opinion about this issue, or Don't tell me your views; I want to form my own opinion.

for one Also, for one thing. As the first of several possible instances. For example, Everything seemed to go wrong; for one, we had a flat tire, and then we lost the keys, or I find many aspects of your proposal to be inadequate; for one thing, you don't specify where you'll get the money. For one can also be applied to a person, as in He doesn't like their behavior, and I for one agree with him.

for one's money

According to one's opinion, choice, or preference. For example, For my money, a trip to Europe is not worth the trouble or expense. [Second half of 1500s]

for one's pains

In return for the trouble one has taken, as in And all he got for his pains was a failing grade. This expression is nearly always used ironically to indicate that the return was not appropriate to the effort made. [First half of 1500s]

for one's part Also, on one's part; on the part of one. 1. So far as one is concerned, as regards one's share in the matter. For example, You may want to go out, but for my part I want to stay home, or On the part of the others, they expect a small share of the profits. [Mid-1400s] 2.

Regarding or with respect to the one specified, as in For the Confederates' part, a daring strategy accounted for their victory at Chancellorsville, or, as Thomas Macaulay put it in History of England

(1849): "No excess of tyranny on the part of a prince can justify active resistance on the part of a subject." [c. 1400]

for one's sake

hand. see FOR THE SAKE OF.

for one thing

hand. see under FOR ONE.

for openers Also, for starters. To begin with. For example, Out of 50 possible jurors they eliminated 30, for openers, or She believed him, which indicated, for starters, that she was very gullible. The word starters is also used for the appetizer or first course of a meal, as in For starters we had shrimp cocktail. [Mid1900s]

for Pete's sake Also, for pity's sake. See FOR THE SAKE OF, def. 3.

for real