Idioms Translator
Base language: EN
Letter: f
Total idioms: 9849 - currently selected: 463 (50 per page)Fly by seat of pants
If you fly by the seat of your pants, you do something without any knowledge or experience, using only your instinct and hoping that you will succeed.
Examples:
Without any formal training, he decided to fly by the seat of his pants and try his luck in New York.
Detalii:
Exemple:
Fly by the seat of one's pants
fly by the seat of one's pants
1. (idiomatic) To pilot an aircraft without the aid of instruments and without a flight plan, using only instinct, visual observation, and practical judgment.
2. (idiomatic, by extension) To use one's judgment, initiative, and perceptions as events unfold in order to improvise a course of action without a predetermined plan.
Examples:
Detalii:
Exemple:
Fly in the face of
fly in the face of (third-person singular simple present flies in the face of, present participle flying in the face of, simple past flew in the face of, past participle flown in the face of)
1. (idiomatic) To act in a manner highly contrary to; to counteract or contradict.
? The new design is very edgy and certainly flies in the face of tradition.
Examples:
Detalii:
Exemple:
Fly in the ointment
A fly in the ointment refers to something that prevents a situation from being completely satisfactory.
fly in the ointment (plural flies in the ointment)
1. (idiomatic) Something which ruins or spoils everything else; a nuisance or problem; an unpleasant or disagreeable detail.
Examples:
Tony's poor English was a fly in the ointment when he applied for the job.
Detalii:
Exemple:
Fly like a rock
fly like a rock
1. (simile, sometimes sarcastic) to travel through the air with little or no benefit from aerodynamic lift
? If the wings aren't big enough your paper airplane will fly like a rock.
Examples:
Detalii:
Exemple:
Fly low
fly low
1. (idiomatic) to have one's fly (zipper) undone.
Examples:
Detalii:
Exemple:
Fly off
fly off
1. (intransitive, idiomatic) to flee rapidly; to run away.
Examples:
Detalii:
Exemple:
Fly off the handle
A person who flies off the handle becomes suddenly very angry.
fly off the handle (third-person singular simple present flies off the handle, present participle flying off the handle, simple past and past participle flew off the handle)
1. (idiomatic) to become very angry or enraged; to throw a fit or go crazy
? My dad flew off the handle when he saw the F on my report card.
Examples:
Dad flew off the handle when I told him I had damaged his new car.
Detalii:
Exemple:
Fly on the wall
A person who watches a situation without being noticed is called a fly on the wall.
fly on the wall (plural flies on the wall)
1. (idiomatic) A quiet, non-participating, or unseen observer; an eavesdropper or witness.
Examples:
I'd like to be a fly on the wall when the management discusses my project.
Detalii:
Exemple:
Fly out of the traps
fly out of the traps
1. (idiomatic) to start quickly.
Examples:
Detalii:
Exemple:
Fly the coop
fly the coop (third-person singular simple present flies the coop, present participle flying the coop, simple past flew the coop, past participle flown the coop)
1. (idiomatic) To depart hastily or unannounced; to escape or flee.
2. (of a bird) To escape from a pen or similar enclosure.
Examples:
Detalii:
Exemple:
Fly the freak flag
fly the freak flag
1. (idiomatic) To behave in a unconventional or unrestrained manner; to exhibit the uninhibited side of one's personality.
Examples:
Detalii:
Exemple:
Fly-by-night
A fly-by-night person, business or venture is considered untrustworthy because they operate briefly and disappear overnight
fly-by-night (plural fly-by-nights)
1. A creature which flies at night; a nocturnal flier or traveler.
2. One who departs or flees at night in order to avoid creditors, law enforcement etc. (often used attributively).
? Do not give your credit card number to that fly-by-night operation.
3. (idiomatic, derogatory) A person or business that appears and di
Examples:
I bought it in one of those fly-by-night stores and now I can't exchange it. The place has closed down.
Detalii:
Exemple:
Flying dutchman
Flying Dutchman (plural Flying Dutchmen)
1. (nautical, mythical) A Dutch-flagged clipper that is very fast sailing, and never makes it to port, seen on the high seas, where upon being hailed, occupants request information on persons long dead, or leave messages for said people. It is considered bad luck to meet said ship.
2. (idiomatic) A ship of similar qualities to the Flying Du
Examples:
Detalii:
Exemple:
Flying start
If something gets off to a flying start, it is immediately successful.
flying start (plural flying starts)
1. (idiomatic) An especially good start.
? The new restaurant got off to a flying start, packing out every night.
2. The start of a sports event in which the competitors are moving when they pass the starting line or initial jump point.
Examples:
Sales of the book got off to a flying start and exceeded our expectations.
Detalii:
Exemple:
Flying visit
flying visit (plural flying visits)
1. (idiomatic) A very short visit
? Toni Morrison was on a flying visit to London last week, for a book signing.
Examples:
Detalii:
Exemple:
Foam at the mouth
Someone who foams at the mouth is extremely angry about something.
Someone who foams at the mouth is extremely angry about something.
Examples:
The director was foaming at the mouth when he saw a picture of his children in the newspaper.
Detalii:
Exemple:
Fold one's tent
to fold one's tent (third-person singular simple present folds one's tent, present participle folding one's tent, simple past and past participle folded one's tent)
1. (idiomatic) To withdraw, especially in a discreet manner; to disengage; to quit.
Examples:
Detalii:
Exemple:
Fold up
fold up (third-person singular simple present folds up, present participle folding up, simple past and past participle folded up)
1. (idiomatic) To make or become more compact by folding.
? Please fold up these towels so they will fit on the shelf.
2. (idiomatic) To go out of business.
? That place folded up years ago.
? If anyone
Examples:
Detalii:
Exemple:
Follow in someone's footsteps
If you follow in someone's footsteps, for example a parent, you lead a similar life or do the same job.
Examples:
Lily followed in her her mother's footsteps and became a teacher.
Detalii:
Exemple:
Follow one's nose
If you follow your nose, you go straight ahead. This can also mean to follow your instinct in life.
Examples:
The station is at the end of the road - just follow your nose.
Detalii:
Exemple:
Follow suit
follow suit
1. (card games) To play a card of the same suit as the previous or leading card
2. (idiomatic) To follow an example; to imitate
? If you are not sure of the proper etiquette, watch what others do and follow suit.
Examples:
Detalii:
Exemple:
Follow through
follow through
1. (idiomatic) To finish; to complete, especially, of a commitment.
? I don't appreciate salesmen who make promises and then fail to follow through.
2. (idiomatic) to continue moving the arms or legs after striking e.g. a ball
Examples:
Detalii:
Exemple:
Food chain
food chain (plural food chains)
1. The feeding relationships between species in a biotic community.
2. (idiomatic) a hierarchy
? With my promotion this month I will continue my steady journey to the top of the food chain.
Examples:
Detalii:
Exemple:
Food for thought
If something give you food for thought, it makes you think seriously about a particular subject.
Examples:
The documentary on poverty in the world really gave me food for thought.
Detalii:
Exemple:
Food for thought
food for thought (uncountable)
1. (idiomatic) Information or knowledge that is worthy of contemplation.
Examples:
Detalii:
Exemple:
Fool away
fool away (third-person singular simple present fools away, present participle fooling away, simple past and past participle fooled away)
1. (idiomatic) to waste, squander
Examples:
Detalii:
Exemple:
Fool's errand
If you go on a fool's errand, you try to do something which is useless, unnecessary or has no chance of success.
Examples:
I realized it was a fool's errand to look for a bank in such an isolated region.
Detalii:
Exemple:
Fool's paradise
If someone is living in a fool's paradise, they are in a state of contentment that will not last because their happiness is based on illusion or false hope.
Examples:
Lisa is living in a fool's paradise if she thinks her boss is going to marry her.
Detalii:
Exemple:
Fools have fortune / fortune favors fools
Examples:
Prost sa fii, noroc sa ai
Detalii:
Exemple:
Foot in the door
If you say that someone has a foot in the door, you mean that they have a small but successful start in something and will possibly do well in the future.
Examples:
With today's unemployment, it's difficult to get a foot in the door in any profession.
Detalii:
Exemple:
Foot in the grave
A person who is either very old or very ill and close to death has onefoot in the grave.
Examples:
It's no use talking to the owner. The poor man has one foot in the grave.
Detalii:
Exemple:
Foot-in-mouth disease
foot-in-mouth disease (uncountable)
1. (idiomatic, humorous) A tendency to make remarks that are embarrassingly wrong or inappropriate.
Examples:
Detalii:
Exemple:
Footloose and fancy free
A person who is footlose and fancy free has few responsibilities or commitments of any kind and feels free to do as they please.
footloose and fancy free
1. (idiomatic) Able to do as one pleases, unconstrained by social ties or responsibilities.
? As long as I am a student, I will be footloose and fancy free.
Examples:
John will never get married. He says he prefers to be footloose and fancy free.
Detalii:
Exemple:
Footloose and fancy-free
A person who is footloose and fancy free has few responsibilities or commitments of any kind and feels free to do as they please.
Examples:
John will never get married. He says he prefers to be footloose and fancy free.
Detalii:
Exemple:
For a change
for a change
1. (idiomatic) As a departure from the usual.
Examples:
Detalii:
Exemple:
For a start
for a start (not comparable)
1. (idiomatic) for one thing; as one rebutting factor among many
? He can't be staring at you. For a start, he's asleep.
Examples:
Detalii:
Exemple:
For all intensive purposes
for all intensive purposes
1. (idiomatic, US, nonstandard) Misconstruction of “for all intents and purposes”.
Examples:
Detalii:
Exemple:
For all intents and purposes
for all intents and purposes
1. (idiomatic, US) For every functional purpose; in every practical sense; in every important respect; practically speaking.
? For all intents and purposes the case is closed.
? This treaty, for all intents and purposes, is no longer viable.
Examples:
Detalii:
Exemple:
For all one is worth
for all one is worth
1. (idiomatic) Intensely, vigorously, with as much effort as one can supply.
? You should see him out there in the snow, shoveling for all he's worth.
Examples:
Detalii:
Exemple:
For all the world
for all the world
1. (idiomatic) Entirely, to all appearances.
Examples:
Detalii:
Exemple:
For chrissake
for chrissake
1. (idiomatic) used to express annoyance or frustration
Examples:
Detalii:
Exemple:
For crying out loud
for crying out loud
1. (idiomatic, colloquial, euphemistic) Used to express frustration, exasperation, or annoyance.
? Oh! For crying out loud, get off the computer! You've been on there for ages!
Examples:
Detalii:
Exemple:
For crying out loud!
This expression is used to show irritation, exasperation or anger.
Examples:
For crying out loud, turn that television off!
Detalii:
Exemple:
For fuck's sake
for fuck's sake
1. (idiomatic, colloquial, vulgar) An expression of anger or frustration (abbreviation ffs or FFS)
? For fuck’s sake, mate! Stop shooting at me!
Examples:
Detalii:
Exemple:
For good
for good (not comparable)
1. (idiomatic) Forever; permanently.
? A bad haircut is no fun, but at least you're not stuck with it for good, only until it grows out.
Examples:
Detalii:
Exemple:
For good and all
for good and all (not comparable)
1. (idiomatic) permanently, forever
Examples:
Detalii:
Exemple:
For good measure
for good measure
1. (idiomatic) In excess of the minimum required; Added as an extra
? He tossed in a couple of extra shirts for good measure and closed the suitcase.
Examples:
Detalii:
Exemple:
For goodness' sake
for goodness' sake
1. (idiomatic, euphemistic) Used to express frustration, exasperation, annoyance.
? For goodness' sake, get off the computer! You've been on there for ages!
2. (idiomatic, euphemistic) Used to express surprise or amazement.
? For goodness' sake, I spelled that word correctly. I never knew I could do that
Examples:
Detalii:
Exemple:
For heaven's sake
for heaven's sake
1. (idiomatic, euphemistic) Expresses frustration, exasperation, or annoyance.
? Oh! For heaven's sake, please do not repeat this mistake!
Examples:
Detalii:
Exemple:
Change base language
Search / Cautare
Project Presentation
Read about the whole idea and birth of the project in the article below:
Idiomatic Expressions Translator Prezentation
Get the phone app
I also made an Android App that you can install directly from Google Play:
Idioms Translator Android App
So any support from the community will allow me to dedicate some work to the development of this project. Thank you!
Show your support