[four-eyes]{n.}, {slang} A person who wears glasses. — A rudeexpression, •/Hey, four-eyes, come over here./

[four-leaf clover]{n.} A small green plant with four leaves which manypeople think means good luck because clover plants usually have three leaves.•/John has a four-leaf clover in his pocket. He thinks he will have good lucknow./

[fourth class]{n.} A class of mail that is not sealed and weighs apound or more, that includes things that are bought and sold and sent in themail, and printed things that are not second or third class mail. •/Bill sentaway 98 cereal box tops and a dollar and got back a sheriff’s badge and gun inthe mail by fourth class./

[fourth-class(1)]{adj.} Belonging to the fourth class of mail. •/Thepackage weighed a pound and a half, so it had to be sent by fourth-classmail./

[fourth-class(2)]{adv.} By fourth-class mail. •/How did the companymail the package? Fourth-class./

[fourth world]{n.}, {informal} The poor nations of the world, asdistinguished from the oil-rich nations of the third world. •/Sri Lanka willnever join OPEC, since it is a fourth world nation./

[fowl] See: NEITHER FISH NOR FOWL.

[fox and geese]{n. phr.} A tag game in which the player representingthe fox tries to catch one of the players representing geese as they run aroundthe 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 thewater./

[frame of mind]{n. phr.} One’s mental outlook; the state of one’spsychological condition, •/There is no use trying to talk to him while he isin such a negative frame of mind./

[freak]{n.}, {slang} 1. A good, or well-liked person, the oppositeof a square, someone with long hair and who is likely (or known) to be amarijuana smoker or a drug user. Also said of homosexuals. •/Is Joe a square,establishment type? — Oh no, he’s a regular freak./ 2. [--- freak] Anenthusiast, a person who does or cultivates something in excess. •/Ellen is afilm-freak./

[freak-out(1)]{n.}, {slang} An act of losing control; a situationthat is bizarre or unusual. •/The party last night was a regularfreak-out./

[freak out(2)]{v. phr.}, {slang} To lose control over one’sconscious self due to the influence of hallucinogenic drugs. •/Joe freakedout last night./

[free] See: FOR FREE, MAKE FREE, MAKE FREE WITH, OF ONE’S OWN ACCORD or OFONE’S OWN FREE WILL.

[free agent]{n.} A professional player who does not have a contractwith a team. •/The Giants signed two free agents who had been released by theCardinals./

[free and easy]{adj.} Not strict; relaxed or careless. •/The teacherwas free and easy with his students./ •/He had a free and easy way ofacting that attracted many friends./ •/They were free and easy with theirmoney and it was soon gone./

[free ball]{n.} A ball in football that is in play, that is not in thepossession of anyone, that is not a legally thrown forward pass, and thatbelongs to the first team which can grab it. •/A Notre Dame player fell on afree ball and recovered it for his team./

[free enterprise]{n. phr.} A system in which private business iscontrolled by as few government rules as possible. •/The United States isproud of its free enterprise./

[free hand]{n.} Great freedom. •/The teacher had a free hand in herclassroom./ •/Bob put paint on the fence with a free hand./ Compare: FREEREIN.

[freeload]{v.} To have oneself supported in terms of food and housingat someone else’s expense. •/When are you guys going to stop freeloading anddo some work?/

[free rein]{n.} Freedom to do what you want. •/The king had freerein in his country./ •/Father is strict with the children, but Mothergives them free rein./ Compare: FREE HAND.

[free throw]{n.} A shot at the basket in basketball withoutinterference from opponents. •/Mike scored the winning point on a freethrow./ Compare: FIELD GOAL(2), FOUL SHOT.

[free-for-all]{n.} 1. Unlimited, free access to something everybodywants. •/The Smith’s party was a lavish free-for-all; everybody could eat anddrink as much as they wanted./ 2. A barroom, tavern, or street fight in whicheverybody participates. •/The celebration after the soccer game victoryturned 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 orpart in something by unfriendly or dishonest treatment. •/The other boysfroze John out of the club./

[freeze over]{v.} To become covered with ice. •/The children wantedthe lake to freeze over so they could ice-skate./

[French fried potato] or [French fry] {n.} A narrow strip of potatofried in deep fat. — Usually used in the plural. •/Sue ordered a hamburgerand french fries./

[French leave]{n.} The act of slipping away from a place secretly andwithout saying good-bye to anyone. •/"It’s getting late," Rob whispered toJanet. "Let’s take French leave and get out of here."/

[fresh from]{adj.} Recently returned from; experienced in. •/Tom wasfresh from two years in Paris and was very condescending in matters pertainingto cuisine and wines./

[friction tape]{n.} Black cloth tape with one sticky side used aroundelectric wires. •/The boy fixed his cracked baseball bat with some frictiontape./

[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 tobe 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 herengagement ring, and it passed from hand to hand until all the girls hadadmired 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 movedfrom pillar to post./

[from rags to riches]{adv. phr.} Suddenly making a fortune; becomingrich overnight. •/The Smiths went from rags to riches when they unexpectedlywon the lottery./