[follow through]{v. phr.} 1. To finish a movement that you havestarted; continue an action to its natural ending. •/A football passer shouldfollow through after he throws the ball./ 2. To finish an action that youhave started. •/Bob drew plans for a table for his mother, but he did notfollow through by making it./

[follow up]{v. phr.}, {informal} 1. To chase or follow closely andwithout giving up. •/The Indians followed up the wounded buffalo until itfell dead./ 2. Make (one action) more successful by doing something more.•/After Mary sent a letter to apply for a job, she followed it up by going totalk to the personnel manager./ •/The doctor followed up Billy’s operationwith x-rays, and special exercises to make his foot stronger./ Compare:FOLLOW OUT, FOLLOW THROUGH(2). 3a. To hunt for (more news about something thathas already been in the newspapers, radio or TV news); find more about.•/The day after news of the fire at Brown’s store, the newspaper sent areporter to follow up Mr. Brown’s future plans./ 3b. To print or broadcast(more news about some happening that has been in the news before). •/The firestory was printed Monday, and Tuesday’s paper followed it up by saying that Mr.Brown planned to build a bigger and better store at the same place./

[follow-up]{n.} Additional work or research by means of which anearlier undertaking’s chances of success are increased. •/I hope you’ll bewilling to do a bit of follow-up./

[fond of] Having a liking for; attracted to by strong liking. •/Alan isfond of candy./ •/Uncle Bill was the children’s favorite, and he was fondof them too./

[food for thought]{n. phr.} Something to think about or worth thinkingabout; something that makes you think. •/The teacher told John that shewanted to talk to his father, and that gave John food for thought./ •/Thereis much food for thought in this book./

[fool] See: CHILDREN AND FOOLS SPEAK THE TRUTH, MAKE A FOOL OF.

[fool and his money are soon parted] A foolish person soon wastes hismoney. — A proverb, •/Jimmy spends all his pennies for candy. A fool and hismoney are soon parted./

[fool around] or [mess around] or [play around] or [monkeyaround] {v.}, {informal} 1. To spend time playing, fooling, or jokinginstead of being serious or working; waste time. •/If you go to college, youmust work, not fool around./ •/The boys fooled around all afternoon in thepark./ Compare: CUT UP(2). To treat or handle carelessly. •/Bob cut himselfby fooling around with a sharp knife./ •/Suzie says she wishes John wouldquit playing around with the girls and get married./ 3. or [fiddlearound] To work or do something in an irregular or unplanned way; tinker.•/Jimmy likes to monkey around with automobile engines./ •/Alice isfooling around with the piano in her spare time./ Compare: FUCK AROUND.

[fool around] See: MESS AROUND.

[fool away] or [fritter away] {v.}, {informal} To wastefoolishly. •/Paul failed history because he fooled away his time instead ofstudying./ •/The man won a lot of money, but he soon frittered it away andwas poor again./

[foolish] See: PENNY WISE AND POUND FOOLISH.

[foolproof]{adj.} So constructed that not even a fool can spoil it;easy. •/This entrance examination is so easy that it is actuallyfoolproof./

[fool’s paradise] See: LIVE IN A FOOL’S PARADISE.

[foot] See: AT ONE’S FEET, COLD FEET, DEAD ON ONE’S FEET, DRAG ONE’S FEET,FROM HEAD TO FOOT, GET OFF ON THE WRONG FOOT, GET ONE’S FEET WET, HAND ANDFOOT, KEEP ONE’S FEET, KNOCK OFF ONE’S FEET, LAND ON ONE’S FEET, LET GRASS GROWUNDER ONE’S FEET, ONE FOOT IN THE GRAVE, ON FOOT, ON ONE’S FEET, PLAY FOOTSIE,PUT ONE’S BEST FOOT FORWARD, PUT ONE’S FOOT DOWN, PUT ONE’S FOOT IN IT, SETFOOT, SHOE ON THE OTHER FOOT, STAND ON ONE’S OWN FEET, SWEEP OFF ONE’S FEET,THINK ON ONE’S FEET, THROW ONESELF AT SOMEONE’S FEET.

[footed] See: FLAT FOOTED.

[foot in the door]{n. phr.}, {informal} The first step towardgetting or doing something; a start toward success; opening. •/Don’t let Janeget her foot in the door by joining the club or soon she’ll want to bepresident./

[footstep] See: FOLLOW IN ONE’S FOOTSTEPS.

[foot the bill]{v. phr.} To cover the expenses of; pay for something.•/The bride’s father footed two-thirds of the bill for hix daughter’swedding./ Compare: PICK UP THE TAB.

[footloose and fancy-free]{adj. phr.} Free and free to do what onewants (said of unmarried men). •/Ron is a merry bachelor and seems to enjoygreatly being footloose and fancy-free./

[for a fall] See: RIDING FOR A FALL.

[for all] 1. In spite of; even with, despite. — Used for contrast. •/Forall his city ways, he is a country boy at heart./ •/There may be mistakesoccasionally, but for all that, it is the best book on the subject./ •/Forall his money, he was very unhappy./ 2. also [for aught] To the extentthat. — Used like a negative with "care" and "know". •/For all I care, youcan throw it away./ •/For all he knows, we might be in Boston./ Compare:AS FAR AS(2), ONCE AND FOR ALL.

[for all one cares]{adv. phr.} In the opinion of one who is notinvolved or who does not care what happens. •/For all Jane cares, poor Tommight as well drop dead./

[for all one is worth] With all of your strength; as hard as you can.•/Roger ran for all he was worth to catch the bus./

[for all one knows]{adv. phr.} According to the information one has;probably. •/For all we know, Ron and Beth might have eloped and been marriedin a French chateau./

[for all that]{adv. phr.} In spite of what has been said, alleged, orrumored. •/Well, for all that, we think that she is still the most deservingcandidate for Congress./

[for all the world]{adv. phr.} 1. Under no circumstances. •/Bettysaid she wouldn’t marry Jake for all the world./ 2. Precisely; exactly.•/It began for all the world like a successful baseball season for the UICFlames, when suddenly they lost to the Blue Demons./

[for a loop] See: KNOCK FOR A LOOP or THROW FOR A LOOP.

[for a loss] See: THROW FOR A LOSS.

[for a ride] See: TAKE FOR A RIDE.

[for as much as]{conj.}, {formal} Because; since. •/For as muchas the senator is eighty years old, we feel he should not run forreelection./ Syn.: INASMUCH AS.

[for a song]{adv. phr.}, {informal} At a low price; for a bargainprice; cheaply. •/He sold the invention for a song and its buyers were theones who got rich./ •/They bought the house for a song and sold it a fewyears later at a good profit./

[for aught] See: FOR ALL(2).

[for bear] See: LOADED FOR BEAR.

[for better or worse] or [for better or for worse] {adv. phr.} 1.With good or bad effect, depending on how one looks at the matter. •/Thehistorian did justice, for better or worse, to the careers of several famousmen./ 2. Under any eventuality; forever; always. •/Alex and Masha decidedto leave Moscow and come to Chicago, for better or for worse./ 3. (Marriagevows) Forever, for as long as one may live. •/With this ring I thee wed, forricher or poorer, in sickness and in health, for better or worse, til death dous part./

[forbid] See: GOD FORBID.