American Heritage Dictionary of Idioms

Actually so, genuine, as in Are your plans to move away for real? [Slang; mid-1900s]

for shame Also, shame on you. An expression that condemns someone for being dishonorable or disgraceful. For example, "For shame," said Carol to the puppy, "You shouldn't have done that," or "Shame on you for cheating," the teacher said. [c. 1300]

for short Also, short for. As an abbreviation. For example, Richard prefers to be called Dick for short, or The Fed is short for the Federal Reserve Board of Governors. [Mid-1800s]

for show

For the sake of appearances or display. For example, They put on a lavish buffet, mainly for show, or The police pretended to jail the informer, for show. [c. 1700]

for starters

hand. see FOR OPENERS.

for sure

hand. see FOR CERTAIN.

fort

hand. see HOLD THE FORT.

forth

hand. see AND SO FORTH; BACK AND FORTH; BRING FORTH; HOLD FORTH; PUT FORTH; SET FORTH.

for that matter

As for that, so far as that is concerned, as in For that matter I'm not too hungry. William Congreve used it in The Old Batchelour (1693; 4:22): "No, no, for that matter, when she and I part, she'll carry her separate maintenance." [Late 1600s]

for the asking

On request, without charge, as in My brother is a lawyer, so for us his advice is free for the asking, or If you want to borrow the tractor, it's yours for the asking. This expression dates from the early 1800s, although slightly different versions of it (such as at one's asking) have been used since the late 1500s.

for the best

hand. see ALL FOR, def. 2.

for the birds

Worthless, not to be taken seriously, no good. For example, This conference is for the birds?

let's leave now. This term has been said to allude to horse droppings from which birds would extract seeds. This seemingly fanciful theory is borne out by a more vulgar version of this idiom, shit for the birds. [Slang; first half of 1900s]

for the hell of it Also, for the heck of it; just for the hell of it. For no particular reason; on a whim. For example, We drove by the old place just for the hell of it. In the first variant, heck is a euphemism for hell. [First half of 1900s] Also see FOR FUN, def. 2.

for the life of one

Although trying hard, as in I can't for the life of me remember his name. This expression is always used hyperbolically, that is, one's life is not at all endangered. [Late 1700s]

for the love of

1. For the sake of, in consideration of. For example, She signed up for all these volunteer jobs for the love of praise. [c. 1200] 2. for the love of Pete or Mike or God. An exclamation of surprise, exasperation, or some similar feeling, as in For the love of Pete, give me the money! James Joyce used this idiom in Ulysses (1922): "For the love of Mike listen to him." Pete and Mike are euphemisms for God. [Early 1900s] Also see FOR THE SAKE OF, def. 3.

for the moment Also, for the present; for the time being. Temporarily, during the period under consideration, for now. For example, For the moment I am tied up, but I'll get to it next week, or This room arrangement will do for the present, or Jim will act as secretary for the time being. The first term dates from the late 1800s, the first variant from the mid-1500s, and the second variant from the late 1400s.

for the most part

In general, usually. For example, For the most part she is very good-humored, or The committee members agree for the most part. [Late 1300s] Also see the synonyms BY AND LARGE; ON

THE WHOLE.

for the present

hand. see FOR THE MOMENT.

for the record

hand. see GO ON RECORD; JUST FOR THE RECORD.

for the sake of

1. Also for one's sake. Out of consideration or regard for a person or thing; for someone's or something's advantage or good. For example, For Jill's sake we did not serve meat, or We have to stop fighting for the sake of family unity. [Early 1200s] 2. For the purpose or motive of, as in You like to quarrel only for the sake of an argument [Early 1200s]. 3. for God's sake. Also for goodness or heaven's or Pete's or pity's sake. An exclamation showing surprise, impatience, anger, or some other emotion, de

pending on the context. For example, For God's sake, I didn't expect to see you here, or Hurry up, for goodness sake, or For heaven's sake, how can you say such a mean thing? or For pity's sake, finish your dinner. The variants are euphemisms for God. [c. 1300] For a synonym, see FOR THE

LOVE OF, def.

2.

for the time being

hand. see FOR THE MOMENT.

fortune

hand. see MAKE A FORTUNE.

for two cents For nothing; for a petty sum. For example, For two cents I'd quit the club entirely. Similarly, like two cents, means "of little or no value or importance, worthless," as in She made me feel like two cents. The use of two cents in this sense is thought to be derived from a similar British use of twopence or tuppence, which dates from about 1600. The American coin was substituted in the 1800s, along with two bits, slang for 25 cents and also meaning "a petty sum." Similarly, put in one's two cents or two cents' worth, meaning "to express one's unsolicited opinion for whatever it is worth," dates from the late 1800s.

forty winks

A brief nap, as in There's just time for forty winks before we have to leave. This expression supposedly was first recorded in 1828 and relies on wink in the sense of "sleep," a usage dating from the 14th century.

forward

hand. see BACKWARD AND FORWARD; CARRY FORWARD; COME FORWARD; FROM THIS DAY FORWARD; KNOW LIKE A BOOK (BACKWARDS AND FORWARDS); LOOK FORWARD; PUT FORWARD; PUT ONE'S BEST FOOT FORWARD; SET FORWARD.

for what it's worth

hand. see under FOR ALL ONE IS WORTH.

foul

hand. In addition to the idioms beginning with FOUL, also see RUN AFOUL OF.

foul one's nest Also, foul one's own nest. Hurt one's own interests, as in With his constant complaints about his wife, he's only fouling his own nest. This metaphoric expression transfers a bird's soiling of its nest to human behavior. [Mid-1200s]

foul play

other drug. [Slang; mid-1960s] 2. Behave or cause to behave irrationally and uncontrollably, with enthusiasm, excitement, fear, or madness. For example, The band's wild playing made the audience freak out, or It was such a close accident, it really freaked me out, or She freaked out and ended up in the psychiatric ward.

[Slang; 1960s] Also see FLIP ONE'S LID; WIG OUT.

free

hand. In addition to the idioms beginning with FREE, also see BREATHE EASY

(FREELY); FEEL FREE; FOOTLOOSE AND FANCY-FREE; FOR FREE; GET OFF (SCOT-FREE); HOME FREE; MAKE FREE WITH; OF ONE'S OWN ACCORD (FREE WILL).

free agent

1. A person not under compulsion or constraint, not responsible to any authority for his or her actions. For example, After he quit his job, he decided to pursue the same line of work as a free agent. Originally used to describe a person subject to the philosophic concept of free will (as opposed to determinism), this expression was first recorded in 1662. Later it was extended to mean "someone not under obligation to an authority." 2. A professional athlete who is free to sign a contract with any team. For example, After he was released from the Yankees, he was a free agent and could shop around for the team that offered the most money. [Second half of 1900s]

free and clear

Without any legal encumbrance, such as a lien or mortgage. For example, After the mortgage was paid off they owned the house free and clear. [Mid-1800s]

free and easy

1. Casual, relaxed, as in His style of writing is free and easy. In the 1930s and 1940s this phrase gained currency as part of a slogan for a brand of cigarettes, which were said to be "free and easy" to inhale. [c. 1700] 2. Careless, sloppy, morally lax, as in This administration was free and easy with the taxpayers' money, or These girls hate to be considered free and easy. [First half of 1900s]

free as a bird

At liberty, without obligations, as in Can you join us tonight??

Yes, I'm free as a bird, or He's free as a bird?

he can travel wherever he chooses. [c. 1700]. Also see FOOTLOOSE AND FANCY-FREE.

free enterprise Also, private enterprise. An undertaking on one's own behalf, especially a shady or illegal one. For example, The city treasurer didn't bother with competitive bids; the spirit of free enterprise just led him to his brother-in-law, or The sergeant indulged in a little private enterprise, selling cigarettes on the black market. This sarcastic application of a term that has meant, since about 1885, the freedom of private businesses to operate competitively for profit with a minimum of government control, dates from the mid-1900s.

free fall

A rapid, uncontrolled decline, as in The markets threatened to go into free fall and we came close to outright panic. This term transfers the aeronautical meaning of a free fall, that is, "a fall through the air without any impedance, such as a parachute," to other kinds of precipitous drop. [Second half of 1900s]

free hand Also, free rein. Freedom to do or decide as one sees fit. For example, The teacher gave her assistant a free hand with the class, or They gave me free rein to reorganize the department. The first expression dates from the late 1800s, the second from the mid-1900s.

free lunch

Something acquired without due effort or cost. For example, In politics there is no free lunch; every favor calls for repayment. This expression alludes to the custom of taverns offering food free of charge to induce customers to buy drinks. It was soon extended to other kinds of gift but is often used in a negative way, as in the example. [First half of 1800s]

free rein

hand. see FREE HAND.

freeze one's blood

hand. see MAKE ONE'S BLOOD RUN COLD.

freeze out

Shut out or exclude by unfriendly treatment; force to retire or withdraw from membership, a job, or the like. For example, They tried to freeze me out of the conversation, or After Bill was frozen out of the case, they hired a new lawyer. [Mid-1800s]

fresh

hand. In addition to the idioms beginning with FRESH, also see BREATH OF FRESH

AIR.

fresh as a daisy

Well rested, energetic, as in I'm finally over my jet lag and feel fresh as a daisy. This simile may allude to the fact that a daisy's petals fold at night and open in the morning. [Late 1700s]

fresh out of Also, clean out of. Recently or completely used up or unavailable. For example,

Sorry, I'm fresh out of sugar and can't lend you any, or We're clean out of small change.

[Colloquial; late 1800s]

Friday

hand. see BLACK FRIDAY; GIRL FRIDAY; THANK GOD (IT'S FRIDAY).

friend

hand. In addition to the idiom beginning with FRIEND, also see FAIR-WEATHER

FRIEND; MAKE FRIENDS.

friend in court Also, friends in high places. A person or persons who can help by virtue of their important position. For example, With a friend in court, he has a good chance of getting the contract, or Jim thinks he can get out of paying the fine; he has friends in high places.

This expression alludes to the power of a person at the royal court. With the decline of monarchies, high places came into more common use. [c. 1400]

frighten

hand. see SCARE OUT OF ONE'S WITS.

fritter away

Squander or waste little by little; wear down gradually. For example, She frittered away her salary on odds and ends and saved nothing. This expression was first recorded in Alexander Pope's Dunciad (1728): "How prologues into prefaces decay, And these to notes are fritter'd quite away."

fritz

hand. see ON THE BLINK (FRITZ).

fro

hand. see TO AND FRO.

frog in one's throat

Hoarseness or phlegm in the throat, as in Can you understand me? I've got a frog in my throat.

This expression probably owes its origin to the froglike croaks produced by a person with a sore throat. [c. 1900]

frog in a small pond

hand. see under BIG FISH IN A SMALL POND.

from bad to worse

Unacceptable and getting more so, on a steady downward course. For example, Mary's grades have gone from bad to worse. [Mid-1500s] Also see IF WORST COMES TO WORST.

from first to last

hand. see under FIRST AND LAST.

from hand to hand

hand. see HAND TO HAND.

from hand to mouth

hand. see HAND TO MOUTH.

from head to toe Also, from head to heels or foot; from tip or top to toe. Over the entire body, in its entirety. For example, He was dressed in black from head to toe, or She ached all over, from tip to toe. These expressions date from ancient times. The alliterative head to heels originated about 1400, and Shakespeare had "from top to toe" in Hamlet (1:2).

from Missouri, I'm

I'm extremely skeptical so you'll have to prove it. For example, You won the lottery? Come on, I'm from Missouri. The full expression, I'm from Missouri and you'll have to show me, dates from about 1880. Some authorities believe it alludes to the Missouri Compromise of 1820, whereby Missouri was admitted to the Union as a slave state and slavery was forbidden in certain other areas, but the connection, if any, is not clear.

from pillar to post

From one thing or place to another, hither and thither. For example, After Kevin joined the Air Force, the family kept moving from pillar to post. This expression began life in the early 1400s as from post to pillar, an order no longer used, and is thought to allude to the banging about of a ball in the game of court tennis.

from rags to riches

From being poor to being wealthy, especially through one's own efforts. For example, The invention catapulted the scientist from rags to riches. Horatio Alger (1834-1899) popularized this theme in some 130 best-selling novels, in which the hero, through hard work and thrift, pulled himself out of poverty to wealth and happiness.

from scratch

From the very beginning, from the outset; from nothing. For example, I knew we'd have a problem from scratch. Similarly, to start from scratch means "to start from the very beginning," as in

After the business failed, they decided to reorganize and start from scratch. This term comes from racing, where a competitor starts from the line scratched into the ground (whereas others may start ahead with a handicap). [Mid-1800s] Also see FROM THE GROUND UP; FROM THE

WORD GO.

from soup to nuts Also, from A to Z or start to finish or stem to stern. From beginning to end, throughout, as in We went through the whole agenda, from soup to nuts, or She had to learn a whole new system from A to Z, or It rained from start to finish, or We did over the whole house from stem to stern. The first expression, with its analogy to the first and last courses of a meal, appeared in slightly different forms (such as from potage to cheese) from the 1500s on; the precise wording here dates only from the mid-1900s. The second expression alludes to the first and last letters of the Roman alphabet; see also ALPHA AND OMEGA. The third comes

from racing and alludes to the entire course of the race; it dates from the mid-1800s. The last variant is nautical, alluding to the front or stem, and rear or stern, of a vessel.

from the bottom of one's heart

Most sincerely, unreservedly. For example, I want to thank all of my supporters from the bottom of my heart, or She wished, from the bottom of her heart, that her daughter would get well. In English this term appeared in the Anglican Book of Common Prayer's Communion service (1545): "If one . . . be content to forgive from the bottom of his heart"; in Latin it dates back to Virgil.

from the cradle to the grave

From birth to death, throughout life, as in This health plan will cover you from cradle to grave.

Richard Steele used the term in The Tatler (1709): "A modest fellow never has a doubt from his cradle to his grave." [c. 1700]

from the ground up

From the very beginning; also, completely, thoroughly. For example, We've had to learn a new system from the ground up, or The company changed all of the forms from the ground up. This expression alludes to the construction of a house, which begins with the foundation.

from the horse's mouth

From a reliable source, on the best authority. For example, I have it from the horse's mouth that he plans to retire next month. Also put as straight from the horse's mouth, this expression alludes to examining a horse's teeth to determine its age and hence its worth. [1920s]

from the outset

hand. see AT THE OUTSET.

from the sublime to the ridiculous

From the beautiful to the silly, from great to puny. For example, They played first Bach and then an ad jingle?

from the sublime to the ridiculous. The reverse, from the ridiculous to the sublime, is used with the opposite meaning. Coined by Tom Paine in The Age of Reason (1794), in which he said the two are so closely related that it is but one step from one to the other, the phrase has been often repeated in either order.

from the word go

From the start, as in I've had trouble with this computer from the word go. This expression probably alludes to the start of a race, signaled by the word go. [Early 1800s] For a synonym, see

FROM SCRATCH.

from this day forward Also, from this day on; from now on. Beginning today and continuing forever, as in They promised to follow instructions from this day forward, or From now on I'll do what you say. The first rather formal expression for this concept dates from about 1500. The second was used in the past tense by Thomas Hobbes in Odyssey (1675): "From that day on, centaurs and men are foes." The last version is the most common today.

from time to time

Occasionally, once in a while. For example, From time to time we play bridge with the Carters.

[Late 1300s] Also see

from way back

Since long ago; for a long time. For example, This painting has been in the family from way back, or We know the Smiths from way back. [Colloquial; late 1800s]

front

hand. In addition to the idioms beginning with FRONT, also see BRAVE FACE (FRONT);

IN FRONT OF; OUT FRONT; UP FRONT.

front and center

In the most prominent position, as in You couldn't miss John?

he was front and center in that presentation. This expression alludes to the best and usually most expensive seats in a theater.

front burner, on a Also, on the front burner. A position of relatively great importance or high priority. For example, The boss said this project is now on a front burner. This expression alludes to a cook's putting the items requiring the most attention at the front of the stove. [1960s] Also

see BACK BURNER.

front office

The policy-making or executive individuals in an organization, as in I'll have to check with the front office before I can give you a discount. This term was originally underworld slang for police headquarters or the main detective bureau. It soon was extended to other administrative offices and their personnel. [c. 1900]

frosting on the cake

hand. see ICING ON THE CAKE.

frown on

Regard with disapproval or distaste, as in Pat frowns on bad language. This idiom transfers the disapproving facial expression to the thought it expresses. [Late 1500s]

fruit

hand. see BEAR FRUIT; FORBIDDEN FRUIT.

fruitcake

hand. see NUTTY AS A FRUITCAKE.