[fowl] See: NEITHER FISH NOR FOWL.
[fox and geese] <n. phr.> A tag game in which the player representing the fox tries to catch one of the players representing geese as they run around the outside of a circle.
[fraidy-cat] or [fraid-cat] or [scaredy-cat] or [scared cat] <n.>, <informal> A shy person; someone who is easily frightened. - Usually used by or to children. * /Tom was a fraidy-cat and wouldn't go in the water./
[frame of mind] <n. phr.> One's mental outlook; the state of one's psychological condition, * /There is no use trying to talk to him while he is in such a negative frame of mind./
[freak] <n.>, <slang> 1. A good, or well-liked person, the opposite of a square, someone with long hair and who is likely (or known) to be a marijuana smoker or a drug user. Also said of homosexuals. * /Is Joe a square, establishment type? - Oh no, he's a regular freak./ 2. [--freak] An enthusiast, a person who does or cultivates something in excess. * /Ellen is a film-freak./
[freak-out(1)] <n.>, <slang> An act of losing control; a situation that is bizarre or unusual. * /The party last night was a regular freak-out./
[freak out(2)] <v. phr.>, <slang> To lose control over one's conscious self due to the influence of hallucinogenic drugs. * /Joe freaked out last night./
[free] See: FOR FREE, MAKE FREE, MAKE FREE WITH, OF ONE'S OWN ACCORD or OF ONE'S OWN FREE WILL.
[free agent] <n.> A professional player who does not have a contract with a team. * /The Giants signed two free agents who had been released by the Cardinals./
[free and easy] <adj.> Not strict; relaxed or careless. * /The teacher was free and easy with his students./ * /He had a free and easy way of acting that attracted many friends./ * /They were free and easy with their money and it was soon gone./
[free ball] <n.> A ball in football that is in play, that is not in the possession of anyone, that is not a legally thrown forward pass, and that belongs to the first team which can grab it. * /A Notre Dame player fell on a free ball and recovered it for his team./
[free enterprise] <n. phr.> A system in which private business is controlled by as few government rules as possible. * /The United States is proud of its free enterprise./
[free hand] <n.> Great freedom. * /The teacher had a free hand in her classroom./ * /Bob put paint on the fence with a free hand./ Compare: FREE REIN.
[freeload] <v.> To have oneself supported in terms of food and housing at someone else's expense. * /When are you guys going to stop freeloading and do some work?/
[free rein] <n.> Freedom to do what you want. * /The king had free rein in his country./ * /Father is strict with the children, but Mother gives them free rein./ Compare: FREE HAND.
[free throw] <n.> A shot at the basket in basketball without interference from opponents. * /Mike scored the winning point on a free throw./ Compare: FIELD GOAL(2), FOUL SHOT.
[free-for-all] <n.> 1. Unlimited, free access to something everybody wants. * /The Smith's party was a lavish free-for-all; everybody could eat and drink as much as they wanted./ 2. A barroom, tavern, or street fight in which everybody participates. * /The celebration after the soccer game victory turned into an uncontrollable free-for-all./
[freeze] See: BLOOD RUNS COLD or BLOOD FREEZES.
[freeze one's blood] See: BLOOD RUNS COLD.
[freeze out] <v.>, <informal> To force out or keep from a share or part in something by unfriendly or dishonest treatment. * /The other boys froze John out of the club./
[freeze over] <v.> To become covered with ice. * /The children wanted the lake to freeze over so they could ice-skate./
[French fried potato] or [French fry] <n.> A narrow strip of potato fried in deep fat. - Usually used in the plural. * /Sue ordered a hamburger and french fries./
[French leave] <n.> The act of slipping away from a place secretly and without saying good-bye to anyone. * /"It's getting late," Rob whispered to Janet. "Let's take French leave and get out of here."/
[fresh from] <adj.> Recently returned from; experienced in. * /Tom was fresh from two years in Paris and was very condescending in matters pertaining to cuisine and wines./
[friction tape] <n.> Black cloth tape with one sticky side used around electric wires. * /The boy fixed his cracked baseball bat with some friction tape./
[Friday] See: GIRL FRIDAY.
[friend] See: BOY FRIEND, FAIR-WEATHER FRIEND, GIRL FRIEND, LADY FRIEND, MAKE FRIENDS.
[friends with] Friendly to; a friend of. * /Alice found several girls to be friends with on the first day of school./ * /At first I didn't like John, but now I am friends with him./
[frightened out of one's wits] See: OUT OF ONE'S WITS.
[frightened to death] See: TO DEATH.
[fritter away] See: FOOL AWAY.
[fro] See: TO AND FRO.
[frog] See: BIG FROG IN A SMALL POND, LITTLE FROG IN A BIG POND.
[from bad to worse] See: GO FROM BAD TO WORSE.
[from grace] See: FALL FROM GRACE.
[from hand to hand] <adv. phr.> From one person to another and another. * /The box of candy was passed from hand to hand./ * /Jane brought her engagement ring, and it passed from hand to hand until all the girls had admired it./
[from hand to mouth] See: LIVE FROM HAND TO MOUTH.
[from little acorns] See: GREAT OAKS FROM LITTLE ACORNS GROW.
[from Missouri] <adj. phr.>, <slang> Doubtful; suspicious. * /Don't try to fool me. I'm from Missouri./
[from mouth to mouth] <adv. phr.> See: BY WORD OF MOUTH.
[from pillar to post] <adv. phr.> From one place to another many times. * /Sarah's father changed jobs several times a year, and the family was moved from pillar to post./
[from rags to riches] <adv. phr.> Suddenly making a fortune; becoming rich overnight. * /The Smiths went from rags to riches when they unexpectedly won the lottery./
[from scratch] <adv. phr.>, <informal> With no help from anything done before; from the beginning; from nothing. * /Dick built a radio from scratch./ * /In sewing class, Mary already knew how to sew a little, but Jane had to start from scratch./ Compare: FROM THE GROUND UP.
[from the bottom of one's heart] or [with all one's heart] <adv. phr.> With great feeling; sincerely. * /A mother loves a baby from the bottom of her heart./ * /John thanked his rescuer from the bottom of his heart./ * /The people welcomed the returning soldiers from the bottom of their hearts./
[from the door] See: KEEP THE WOLF FROM THE DOOR.
[from the ground up] <adv. phr.> From the beginning; entirely; completely. * /After the fire they had to rebuild their cabin from the ground up./ * /Sam knows about baseball from the ground up./ * /The new cars have been changed from the ground up./
[from the heart] <adv.> Sincerely; honestly. * /John always speaks from the heart./
[from the word "go"] <adv. phr.> From start to finish; completely. * /He may look French but he is a New Yorker from the word "go."/
[from time to time] <adv. phr.> Not often; not regularly; sometimes; occasionally; at one time and then again at another time. * /Even though the Smiths have moved, we still see them from time to time./ * /Mother tries new recipes from time to time, but the children never like them./ Syn.: NOW AND THEN, AT TIMES, ONCE IN A WHILE. Compare: BY FITS AND STARTS, OFF AND ON.