[for broke] See: GO FOR BROKE.

[force] See: IN FORCE, JOIN FORCES.

[force one’s hand]{v. phr.} To make you do something or tell what you will do sooner than planned. •/Ben did not want to tell where he was going, but his friend forced his hand./ •/Mr. Smith planned to keep his land until prices went up, but he had so many doctor bills that it forced his hand./

[force play] or [force-out] {n.} A play in baseball in which a runner is out because he does not run to the next base before the fielder with the ball touches the base. •/Bob was out at second base when Joe hit into a force play./

[for certain] See: FOR SURE.

[for crying out loud]{informal} Used as an exclamation to show that you feel surprised or cross. •/For crying out loud, look who’s here!/ •/For crying out loud, that’s the third time you’ve done it wrong./ Compare: FOR ONE’S SAKE.

[for days on end]{adv. phr.} For a long time; for many days. •/The American tourists tried to get used to Scottish pronunciation for days on end, but still couldn’t understand what the Scots were saying./

[for dear life]{adv. phr.} As though afraid of losing your life. •/He was running for dear life toward town./ •/When the horse began to run, she held on for dear life./

[fore] See: TO THE FORE.

[foremost] See: FIRST AND FOREMOST.

[forest] See: CAN’T SEE THE WOOD FOR THE TREES or CAN’T SEE THE FOREST FOR THE TREES.

[forever and a day]{adv. phr.}, {informal} For a seemingly endless time; forever; always. Used for emphasis. •/We waited forever and a day to find out who won the contest./ •/They promised to remain friends forever and a day./

[forever and ever]{adv. phr.} Forever; always. — Used for emphasis, usually about spiritual things. •/God will live forever and ever./

[for example] or [for instance] {adv. phr.} As an example; as proof; to give an example or illustration. •/Not only rich men become President. For example, Lincoln was born poor./ •/There are jobs more dangerous than truck driving; for instance, training lions./ Compare: FOR ONE THING.

[for fear] Because of fear. •/He left an hour early for fear of missing his train./ •/She worried for fear that the child would be hurt./

[for fear of]{adv. phr.} Because of being afraid of something; on account of being scared. •/Dave refuses to go to Europe for fear of an airplane crash and for fear of a shipwreck./

[for free]{adj. phr.}, {substandard} Without having to pay; free. •/Hey you guys, look at this balloon! They’re for free down at the new store./

[for fun]{prep. phr.} As amusement, not seriously, as a joke. •/Let’s try to play Beethoven’s Emperor Concerto together, you on one piano, and I on another one./ Compare: IN FUN.

[forget] See: FORGIVE AND FORGET.

[forget oneself]{v. phr.} To do something one should have remembered not to do; do something below one’s usual conduct although one knows better; let one’s self-control slip. •/He forgot himself only once at dinner — when he belched./ •/He knew he should hold his temper, but because of the trouble he forgot himself and began to shout./

[forgive and forget]{v.} To have no bad feelings about what happened in the past. •/After the argument the boys decided to forgive and forget./ Syn.: LET BYGONES BE BYGONES, LIVE AND LET LIVE.

[for good] also [for good and all] Permanently, forever, for always. •/The lost money was gone for good./ •/He hoped that the repairs would stop the leak for good./ •/When John graduated from school, he decided that he was done with study for good and all./ Syn.: FOR KEEPS(2).

[for good measure]{adv. phr.} As something more added to what is expected or needed; as an extra. •/He sold me the car at a cheap price and included the radio for good measure./ •/She puts in the spices the recipe calls for and then adds an extra pinch for good measure./ Compare: IN THE BARGAIN, TO BOOT.

[for granted] See: TAKE FOR GRANTED.

[for Heaven’s sake!]{adv. phr.} Please. •/"Help me, for Heaven’s sake!" the injured man cried./

[for hours on end]{adv. phr.} For many hours; for a very long time. •/We have been trying to get this computer going for hours on end, but we need serious professional help./

[for instance] See: FOR EXAMPLE.

[for it] See: RUN FOR IT.

[for keeps]{adv. phr.} 1. For the winner to keep. •/They played marbles for keeps./ 2. {informal} For always; forever, •/He left town for keeps./ Syn.: FOR GOOD. 3. Seriously, not just for fun. •/This is not a joke, it’s for keeps./ — Often used in the phrase "play for keeps". •/The policeman knew that the robber was trying to shoot him. He was playing for keeps./

[forked tongue] See: SPEAK WITH A FORKED TONGUE.

[fork over a lot of money]{v. phr.} To pay an excessive amount of money often unwillingly. •/"According to my divorce decree," Alan complained, "I have to fork over a lot of money to my ex-wife every month."/

[fork over] or [fork out] also [fork up] {v.} To pay; pay out. •/He had to fork over fifty dollars to have the car repaired./ Compare: HAND OVER.

[for laughs]{adv. phr.} For pleasure; for fun; as a joke. •/The college boys climbed up into the girls' dorms and stole some of their dresses just for laughs, but they were punished all the same./

[for love or money]{adv. phr.} For anything; for any price. Used in negative sentences. •/I wouldn’t give him my dog for love or money./ Compare: FOR ALL THE WORLD(1).

[form] See: RAN TRUE TO FORM.

[for no man] See: TIME AND TIDE WAIT FOR NO MAN.

[for one] As the first of several possible examples; as one example. •/Manv people do not like certain foods. I for one do not like cabbage./ — Also used with similar words instead of "one". •/Several materials can be used to make the box: plywood, for one; masonite, for another; sheet metal, for a third./

[for one’s money]{prep. phr.} Regarding one’s endorsement or support; as far as one is concerned. •/For my money, the best candidate for Congress is Ms. Smith./

[for one’s part] also [on one’s part] {adv. phr.} As far as you are concerned; the way you feel or think. •/I don’t know about you, but for my part I don’t want to go to that place./ Compare: AS FOR.

[for one thing]{adv. phr.} As one thing of several; as one in a list of things. •/The teacher said, "You get a low mark, for one thing, because you did not do your homework."/ •/The house was poorly built; for one thing, the roof leaked./ Compare: FOR EXAMPLE, IN THE FIRST PLACE.

[for real(1)]{adj. phr.}, {informal} Not practice or play; earnest, real, serious. •/The war games were over now. This battle was for real./

[for real(2)]{adv. phr.}, {substandard} Not for practice; really; seriously. •/Let’s do our work for real./

[for one’s sake]{adv. phr.}, {informal} Used with different possessive nouns to show surprise, crossness, or impatience. •/For heaven’s sake, where did you come from?/ •/For Pete’s sake, look who’s here!/ •/Well, for pity’s sake, I wish you’d told me sooner./ •/Oh, for gosh sake, let me do it./