- fancy
- I [[t]fæ̱nsi[/t]]
WANTING, LIKING, OR THINKING
♦♦♦fancies, fancying, fancied(Please look at category 12 to see if the expression you are looking for is shown under another headword.)1) VERB If you fancy something, you want to have it or to do it. [mainly BRIT, INFORMAL]
[V -ing] What do you fancy doing, anyway?...
[V -ing] Do you fancy going to see a movie sometime?...
[V n] I just fancied a drink.
2) N-COUNT: usu with supp A fancy is a liking or desire for someone or something, especially one that does not last long.She did not suspect that his interest was just a passing fancy.
Syn:3) VERB If you fancy someone, you feel attracted to them, especially in a sexual way. [INFORMAL][V n] The boys would tease you to death if they didn't fancy you...
[V n] I think he thinks I fancy him or something.
4) VERB If you fancy yourself as a particular kind of person or fancy yourself doing a particular thing, you like the idea of being that kind of person or doing that thing.[V pron-refl as n] So you fancy yourself as the boss someday?...
[V pron-refl -ing] I didn't fancy myself wearing a kilt.
5) VERB If you say that someone fancies themselves as a particular kind of person, you mean that they think, often wrongly, that they have the good qualities which that kind of person has.[V pron-refl n] She fancies herself a bohemian...
[V pron-refl as n] She knew Felix fancied himself as a connoisseur.
[V pron-refl] ...a flighty young woman who really fancies herself.
6) VERB If you say that you fancy a particular competitor or team in a competition, you think they will win. [BRIT][V n] You have to fancy Bath because they are the most consistent team in England...
[V n to-inf] I fancy England and Yugoslavia to win through.
7) VERB If you fancy that something is the case, you think or suppose that it is so. [LITERARY][V that] When Ferris looked up he fancied that he saw a shadow pass close to the window...
[V that] She fancied he was trying to hide a smile.
Syn:8) N-VAR A fancy is an idea that is unlikely, untrue, or imaginary. [LITERARY]His last book is a bold, at times surrealistic mixture of fact and fancy.
...a childhood fancy.
...whims and fancies.
Syn:9) EXCLAM (feelings) You say `fancy' or `fancy that' when you want to express surprise or disapproval.Fancy coming to a funeral in brown boots!...
`Fancy that!' smiled Conti.
10) PHRASE: V inflects, PHR n/-ing If you take a fancy to someone or something, you start liking them, usually for no understandable reason.Sylvia took quite a fancy to him...
The King took a fancy to ordering disguises and masks.
11) PHRASE: V inflects If something takes your fancy or tickles your fancy, you like it a lot when you see it or think of it.II [[t]fæ̱nsi[/t]] ELABORATE OR EXPENSIVEShe makes most of her own clothes, copying any fashion which takes her fancy.
fancier, fanciest1) ADJ-GRADED: usu ADJ n If you describe something as fancy, you mean that it is special, unusual, or elaborate, for example because it has a lot of decoration.It was packaged in a fancy plastic case with attractive graphics.
...fancy jewellery.
2) ADJ-GRADED: usu ADJ n If you describe something as fancy, you mean that it is very expensive or of very high quality, and you often dislike it because of this. [INFORMAL]He owned a fancy house out on Lake Agaway...
They sent me to a fancy private school.
English dictionary. 2008.
