• FIABLE
adj. 1483 obs. – faithful
• FIB
n. 1. 1611 – a small or trivial lie
n. 2. 1966 Amer. dial. – an expulsion of gas from the intestines; a fart
n. 3. 1968 Amer. dial. – a smart alec or rude person
vb. 1690 – to lie
• FIBBER MCGEE’S CLOSET
n. 1966 Amer. dial. – an untidy or overstuffed closet, cubbyhole, or room that serves as a catchall
• FIBBLE
adj. 1883 Amer. dial. – feeble
• FIBBYWERRY
n. 1922 Amer. dial. – February
• FIBLE-FABLE
n. 1581 obs. exc. Eng. dial. – nonsense
• FICE
n. 1. 1850 Amer. dial. – a small dog of mixed breed
n. 2. 1915 Amer. dial., derogatory – a person or animal that is irascible, touchy, or bad-tempered
• FICETY
adj. 1. 1890 Amer. dial. – irascible, angry, low, mean, cross; pert, impertinent, impudent, self-important; frisky, mettlesome
adj. 2. 1906 Amer. dial. – acting so as to show off or drawn attention to oneself; putting on airs; flirtatious, saucy, tomboyish, of questionable morals
• FICETY BREECHES
n. 1906 Amer. dial. – a touchy or quarrelsome person
• FICK-FACKS
n. 1. 1847 Sc. – nonsense; silly jargon; foolish, trifling sayings
n. 2. 19C Sc. – peculiarities of temper, whims
• FICKLE JOHNNY CROW
n. Bk1892 W. Indian sl. – one who does not know his own mind
• FICKY-FICK
n. 1961 Amer. military sl. – sexual intercourse
vb. 1961 Amer. military sl. – to have sexual intercourse
• FID
n. 1. 1830 Amer. dial. – a drink; a measure of alcohol
n. 2. 1848 Amer. dial. – a small piece of tobacco
• FIDDLE
n. 1. 1874 sl., orig. US – deception, swindling, fraud
n. 2. Bk1903 sl. – sixpence
n. 3. 1943 US rhyming sl. (Fiddle and Flute) – suit
n. 4. 1968 Amer. dial. – a horse’s head
vb. 1. 1604 sl. – to swindle, to cheat
vb. 2. Bk1903 sl. – to possess carnally
vb. 3. 1905 Amer. dial. – to saw
vb. 4. 1970 sl. – to misrepresent or fraudulently alter
• FIDDLE-A-DING
n. 1904 Amer. dial. – a nickname for a trifling person
• FIDDLE AND FIRE
n. 1953 US sl. – in the car sales business: a radio and heater
• FIDDLE AND FLUTE
n. 1919 US rhyming sl. – suit
• FIDDLE BITCH
vb. 1989 Can. sl. – to potter aimlessly
• FIDDLE-BOX
n. 1928 Amer. dial. – a fiddle, a violin
• FIDDLE-BRAINED
adj. B1900 obs. – foolish, frivolous
• FIDDLE-BRITCHES
n. 1954 Amer. dial. – a smart alec
• FIDDLE CASES
n. 1942 Amer. sl. – unusually large feet or shoes
• FIDDLECOME
adj. 1697 obs. – nonsensical, silly
• FIDDLED
adj. Bk1942 Amer. sl. – bewildered; confused; muddled
• FIDDLEDEDEE
int. Bk1942 Amer. sl. – (also as ‘fiddle-de-dee’) nonsense! it is ridiculous
n. 1992 UK rhyming sl. for ‘pee’ or ‘wee’ – an act of urination
• FIDDLE-DEE-DAMN!
int. 1969 Amer. dial. – damn! fiddlesticks!
• FIDDLE-DEE-DEE AROUND
vb. 1963 Amer. dial. – to meddle, to fool around
• FIDDLE-DEE-STICKS!
int. 1969 Amer. dial. – damn! fiddlesticks!
• FIDDLE-FACED
adj. 1785 – long-faced, solemn, melancholy or unhappy looking
• FIDDLE-FADDLE
adj. Bk1942 Amer. sl. – insignificant; trivial; worthless
int. Bk1942 Amer. sl. – nonsense! it is ridiculous
n. Bk1942 Amer. sl. – nonsense
• FIDDLE-FART
vb. 1975 Amer. dial. – to fool around, to waste time. to loaf, to dawdle, to shirk responsibility
• FIDDLE-FART AROUND
vb. 1972 US sl. – to waste time doing little or nothing
• FIDDLE-FOOT
n. 1. 1944 Amer. dial. – a person who wanders
n. 2. 1944 Amer. dial. – a skittish horse
vb. 1958 Amer. dial. – of a horse: to make skittish movements
• FIDDLE-FOOT AROUND
vb. 1963 Amer. dial. – to fool around, to move restlessly
• FIDDLE-FOOTED
adj. 1941 Amer. dial. – restless, given to wandering, gadding about
• FIDDLEFUCKAROUND
vb. 1984 Amer. dial. – to fool around, to waste time. to loaf, to dawdle, to shirk responsibility
• FIDDLE-HEADED
adj. 1928 Amer. dial. – of an animal: having an ugly-shaped head; having a head shaped like a violin
• FIDDLE-MA-DAB
n. 1967 Amer. dial. – said to a child when he asks, ‘What are you making?’
• FIDDLE ON A BROOMSTICK!
int. 1959 Amer. dial. – nonsense! fiddlesticks!
• FIDDLER
n. 1. Bk1903 sl. – a farthing (1/4d)
n. 2. Bk1903 sl. – sixpence
• FIDDLER’S GREEN
n. 1825 orig. nautical usage – a paradise chiefly characterized by drinking and dancing
• FIDDLESTER
n. Bk1942 Amer. sl. – a violinist
• FIDDLESTICKS!
int. Bk1942 colloq. – used to express impatience, dismissal, etc.
• FIDDLESTOCK!
int. 1849 Amer. dial. – fiddlesticks! nonsense!
• FIDDLE UP A GUM TREE!
int. 1959 Amer. dial. – nonsense! fiddlesticks!
• FIDDLEY
n. 1. 1941 Aust. rhyming sl. for ‘quid’ (Fiddle-did’) – a pound
n. 2. 1992 UK rhyming sl. for ‘pee’ or ‘wee’ – an act of urination
• FIDDLEY-DID
n. 1941 Aust. rhyming sl. for ‘quid’ – a pound
• FIDDLY-FUCK
n. 1960s US sl. – anything considered utterly insignificant
• FIDELIOUS
adj. 1650 – faithful → obs.
• FIDENE
n. 20C sl. – in dominoes: fifteen points
• FIDFAD
adj. Bk1942 Amer. sl. – insignificant; trivial; worthless
• FIDGE
vb. 1916 Amer. dial. – to act in a nervous manner; to fidget
• FIDGERTY
adj. 1954 Amer. dial. – fidgety
• THE FIDGES
n. 1934 Amer. dial. – a feeling of uneasiness or nervousness; the creeps
• FIDGET
n. 1837 Amer. dial. – one who fusses or worries a lot, esp. about trifles
vb. 1898 Amer. dial. – to cause to be uneasy
• THE FIDGETS
n. 1899 Amer. dial. – a feeling of uneasiness or nervousness; the creeps
• FIDGIE-GIBBETS
n. 1970 Amer. dial. – a feeling of uneasiness or nervousness; the creeps
• FIDGITTYFUDGE!
int. 1859 Amer. dial. – an exclamation
• FIDIMPLICITARY
adj. 1652 nonce word – putting full trust or faith in another’s views
• FIDLAM-BEN
n. L18 UK criminals’ sl. – a petty thief; one who will grab anything, irrespective of its value
• FIDLAM-COVE
n. L18 UK criminals’ sl. – a petty thief; one who will grab anything, irrespective of its value
• FIDLUM-BEN
n. L18 UK criminals’ sl. – a petty thief; one who will grab anything, irrespective of its value
• F.I.D.O.
phr. 1980s sl. – a term of emotional resignation (Fuck It, Drive On)
• FIDO
n. 1. 1930s US prison sl. – a trusty
n. 2. Bk1942 Amer. sl. – a dog
• FI-DO-NIE
n. 1950s drug culture sl. – opium
• FIDO’S GOING TO GET YOU
phr. 1967 Amer. dial. – you are becoming very tired
• FIDUDDLE
vb. 1968 Amer. dial. – to potter around
• FIDUS ACHATES
n. L16 literary usage – a devoted follower; a loyal friend and companion
• FIE!
int. 1. 1250 sl. – used to express mild disgust, annoyance etc.
int. 2. 1297 – used to express the humorous pretense of being shocked
• FIE-FIE
adj. 19C sl. – improper, of improper character
n. 19C sl. – a ‘fallen’ woman
vb. L19 sl. – to make a fuss; to upbraid
• FIELD ARTILLERY
n. 1929 Amer. sl. – attractive female breasts; a shapely female figure
• FIELD BED
n. 1966 Amer. dial. – a bed made up on the floor
• FIELD-BRED
adj. 1966 Amer. dial. – of a horse: not intentionally bred; mongrel
• FIELD COLT
n. 1. 1966 Amer. dial. – an illegitimate child
n. 2. 1968 Amer. dial. – a horse that was not intentionally bred
• FIELD COUCH
n. 1851 Amer. dial. – a bed made up on the floor
• FIELD GENTRY
n. 1969 Amer. dial. – wildflowers that grow in meadows
• FIELD RABBIT
n. 1966 Amer. dial. – an illegitimate child
• FIELD ROAD
n. 1900 Amer. dial. – a dirt road
• FIELD WHISKEY
n. 1953 Amer. dial. – common moonshine, not aged or coloured
• FIEND
n. 1. 1881 sl. – a drug taker or addict; someone addicted to opium or an opiate drug
n. 2. 1884 sl., orig. US – one who favours or enjoys something; an enthusiast
• FIERCE
adj. 1. 1894 Amer. dial. – eager, excited, agitated
adj. 2. 1907 Amer. dial. – terrible, disagreeable in the extreme; extremely bad or severe
adj. 3. 20C teen & high school sl. – terrific
adv. 1963 Amer. dial. – extremely
• FIERY BESOM
n. 1566 – a comet
• FIERY WATER
n. 1950 Amer. dial. – the watery matter that often comes out of a sore with pus
• FIFTH AND JAPIP
n. 1984 Amer. dial. – an imaginary, extremely remote place
• FIFTH AVENUE
n. 1858 Amer. dial. – a place where people of wealth and high social standing live; the people who live there
• FIFTH CALF
n. 1895 Amer. dial. – someone extra; one who doesn’t fit in or belong; a ‘fifth wheel’
• FIFTH DAY
n. 1868 Amer. dial. – Thursday
• FIFTH ESTATE
n. Bk1942 Amer. sl. – the radio brotherhood
• FIFTH QUARTER
n. 1908 Amer. dial. – the giblets of a fowl
• FIFTH WHEEL
n. 1968 Amer. dial. – one’s wife
• FIFTY
n. 19C colloq. – a fifty-dollar bill
• FIFTY-FIFTY
adj. Bk1942 Amer. sl. – mediocre
• FIFTY-MISSION CAP
n. 1. 1956 Amer. military aviation sl. – the service cap when worn without the front spring stiffener and grommet
n. 2. 1971 Amer. jocular usage – a trucker’s hat that usually has several safety badges fastened to it
• FIFTY-ONE
n. 1998 US sl. – crack cocaine
• FIFTY-SPOT
n. 1868 Amer. sl. – a $50 bill; fifty dollars
• FIFTY-TWO-TWENTY
n. 1946 Amer. sl. – unemployment compensation given to servicemen immediately after WWII; $20 a week for 52 weeks
• FIFTY-TWO TWENTY CLUB
n. 1949 Amer. sl. – the servicemen receiving unemployment compensation after WWII
• FIG
n. 1837 Amer. dial. – a twist of tobacco
• FIG AROUND
vb. 1966 Amer. dial. – to idle, to waste time
• FIG BAR
n. 1935 Amer. sl. – the attitude of a very bashful child, the toes turned in, eyes lowered, and the finger in the mouth
• FIG-FIG
n. 1948 Amer. military sl. – sexual intercourse
vb. 1948 Amer. military sl. – to have sexual intercourse
• FIGGER
n. 1785 sl. – a boy thief that, entering by a window, opens the door to his confederates or even hands the booty out to them
• FIGGLE
vb. 1. a1652 obs. exc. Eng. dial. – to fidget about, to wriggle
vb. 2. 19C Eng. dial. – to potter about seeking a living
• FIGGLE-FAGGLE
n. 19C Sc. – conduct which is foolish, ludicrous, or unbecoming; silly or trifling conduct; ridiculous behaviour
• FIGGY-FIG
n. 1948 Amer. military sl. – sexual intercourse
vb. 1948 Amer. military sl. – to have sexual intercourse
• FIGGINS
n. c1870 colloq. – a grocer
• FIGHT
n. a1890 Amer. sl. – a party, as a ‘tea-fight,’ a tea party
vb. 1. 1837 Amer. dial. obs. – to chastise
vb. 2. 1844 Amer. sl. – to drink (esp. whisky), to excess
• FIGHTABLE
adj. 1935 Amer. dial. – disposed to fight
• FIGHT A CIRCLE SAW
vb. 1932 Amer. dial. – to fight against tremendous odds
• FIGHT A CIRCLE SAWMILL
vb. 1939 Amer. dial. – to fight against tremendous odds
• FIGHT A CIRCULAR SAW
vb. 1898 Amer. dial. – to fight against tremendous odds
• FIGHT A STEAM SAWMILL
vb. 1984 Amer. dial. – to fight against tremendous odds
• FIGHT AT THE LEG
vb. 1785 – to take unfair advantage
• FIGHTIFIED
adj. 1952 Amer. dial. – inclined to fight; easily angered
• FIGHT IN ARMOUR
vb. c1780 sl. – to use a condom
• FIGHTING
adj. 1. 1875 Amer. dial. – likely to provoke a fight
adj. 2. 1965 Amer. dial. – bad-tempered, quick to anger
adv. 1941 Amer. dial. – to the point of violence, extremely
• FIGHTING DRUNK
adj. c1890 colloq. – quarrelsome when tipsy
• FIGHTINGEST
adj. 1871 Amer. dial. – most likely or eager to fight
• FIGHTING IRONS
n. World War II sl. – army issue cutlery
• FIGHTING LIQUOR
n. 1967 Amer. dial. – whisky
• FIGHTING ON THE COGNAC FRONT
adj. Amer. World War I sl. – intoxicated with strong drink
• FIGHTING THE BITS
phr. 1968 Amer. dial. – said of an impatient or restless person
• FIGHTING TOOLS
n. World War II Amer. sl. – eating utensils – a knife, fork, and spoon
• FIGHTING WHISKEY
n. 1874 Amer. jocular usage – whisky strong enough to make the drinker pugnacious
• FIGHTIST
n. 1887 colloq., jocular usage – a fighter
• FIGHT IT OUT OF THIS LINE
vb. US Civil War usage – to adopt a course of action and thought and to continue with it to the end
• FIGHT LIKE KILKENNY CATS
vb. 1770 – to engage in a mutually destructive struggle
• FIGHT ONE’S FACE
vb. 1950 Amer. dial. – to eat voraciously
• FIGHT ONE’S HAT
vb. 1944 Amer. dial. – to struggle uselessly
• FIGHT ONE’S HEAD
vb. 1968 Amer. dial.- of a horse: to toss the head back and forth to resist restraint
• FIGHT PIECE
n. 1967 Amer. dial. – the last portion of food, which more than one person wants for himself
• FIGHT THE BITS
vb. 1968 Amer. dial. – of a horse: to toss the head back and forth to resist restraint
• FIGHT THE TIGER
vb. 1837 Amer. dial. – to play against a gambling establishment, esp. at faro; to gamble, to play at cards
• FIGHTY
adj. 1927 Amer. dial. – inclined or eager to fight; easily angered, bad-tempered; pugnacious
• FIGHTYFIED
adj. 1952 Amer. dial. – inclined to fight; easily angered
• FIG LEAF
n. 1. 1942 Amer. sl. – an apron
n. 2. 1966 Amer. dial. – men’s very brief underwear
• FIG LEAVES
n. 1942 Amer. sl. – clothes, esp. those that cover the private parts
• FIGLIA
n. L19 sl. – a child
• FIGLIA HOMEY
n. L19 sl. – a male child
• FIGLIA POLONE
n. L19 sl. – a female child
• FIG NEWTON
n. 1. 1959 Amer. jocular usage – a figment of the imagination
n. 2. 1974 Amer. sl. – a silly, crazy, or eccentric person
• FIGS
n. c1870 colloq. – a grocer
• FIGURE
n. 1785 sl. – a boy thief that, entering by a window, opens the door to his confederates or even hands the booty out to them
vb. 1889 Amer. dial. – to scheme
• FIGURE CLOSE
vb. 1951 Amer. dial. – to have a narrow escape
• FIGURE-DANCER
n. L18C sl. – one who alters the face value of banknotes, cheques, bills, etc.
• FIGURE-FANCIER
n. c1870 sl. – one who prefers his ‘women’ to be large
• FIGUREHEAD
n. 1. 1826 nautical sl. – the face
n. 2. 1839 Amer. nautical sl. – the head
n. 3. World War II Amer. sl. – a company clerk, because he often served as a stand-in for the commander
n. 4. 1945 Amer. sl. – a timekeeper or bookkeeper; a person who works with figures
• FIGURE-MAKER
n. c1875 sl. – a wencher
• FIGURE MAN
n. c1830 sl. – the principal figure in a picture
• FIGURE NINE WITH THE TAIL CUT OFF
n. 1916 Amer. dial. – nothing; something of no account or consequence
• FIGURE OF FUN
n. c1810 colloq. – an oddity
• FIGURES CAN’T LIE – BUT LIARS CAN FIGURE
phr. c1960 Aust. sl. – rejoinder to the cliche ‘figures can’t (or don’t) lie
• FIJI
n. 1963 Amer. students’ sl. – a member of the Phi Gamma Delta fraternity; also, the fraternity itself
Back to INDEX F
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Updated: February 28, 2023
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