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

[four-leaf clover]{n.} A small green plant with four leaves which many people 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 luck now./

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

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

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

[fourth world]{n.}, {informal} The poor nations of the world, as distinguished from the oil-rich nations of the third world. •/Sri Lanka will never 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 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./