Idioms

fairy

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airy-fairy

Insubstantial or impractical; wishful, fanciful, and unrealistic. My mom always had these airy-fairy ideas of us all traveling around the world, but we never had enough money for it. I don't think you've thought through the logistics of implementing such an airy-fairy scheme. I'm used to Tim's airy-fairy ideas for the business, but this one is just downright ridiculous!

away with the fairies

Seeming eccentric, distracted, or slightly crazy. I can't follow what your mom is talking about—it's like she's away with the fairies all of a sudden. OK, you're away with the fairies if you think you'll be able to sell bees as pets! That man talking to himself on the corner—do we think he's away with the fairies?
See also: away, fairy

be away with the fairies

To be or seem eccentric, distracted, or slightly crazy. I can't follow what your mom is talking about—it's like she's away with the fairies all of a sudden. OK, you're away with the fairies if you think you'll be able to sell bees as pets! That man talking to himself on the corner—do we think he's away with the fairies?
See also: away, fairy

be off with the fairies

To be or seem eccentric, distracted, or slightly crazy. I can't follow what your mom is talking about—it's like she's off with the fairies all of a sudden. I was always lost in daydreams and imaginary worlds when I was a kid. Everyone thought I was off with the fairies. That man talking to himself on the corner—do we think he's off with the fairies?
See also: fairy, off

believe in the tooth fairy

1. To believe in a mythical fairy who exchanges money for children's baby teeth that have fallen out and been placed beneath their pillow at night. My daughter still believes in the tooth fairy, and it's pretty darn cute to see how excited she gets when she loses a tooth. When you've got five little ones who all believe in the tooth fairy, it gets kind of expensive! A: "Hey Mom, any chance I can get some money in exchange for the teeth the dentist pulled?" B: "Come on, I know you don't believe in the tooth fairy anymore!"
2. By extension, to believe in something that is utterly fanciful, unrealistic, or absurd. To believe that the leaders of this company are interested in anything but their own profits is to believe in the tooth fairy! If you think that the legislation is going to fix the issues with healthcare in this country, then you might as well believe in the tooth fairy! You really think we're getting bonuses this year? And do you believe in the tooth fairy too?
See also: believe, fairy, tooth

fairy godmother

1. In children's fairy tales, a woman with magical powers who appears in order to help others in their time of need. Cinderella's fairy godmother helped her get ready for the ball so she could meet Prince Charming. Ugh, I'm running so late, I could use a fairy godmother to help me get ready for prom! Mommy, when is my fairy godmother going to come along and give me a fancy dress?
2. Someone who helps others with their problems, usually providing financial assistance. Thank you so much for helping me with my car repair bill! You are my fairy godmother. Look, I hate seeing you struggle like this, but I can't be your fairy godmother. You need to come up with the money on your own. Mom, don't let the kids give you some sob story about needing money. You're their grandmother, not their fairy godmother.
See also: fairy, godmother

fairy tale

1. noun A lie or fabricated account of something (likened to a clearly fictional fantasy story). I know he's telling me fairy tales to avoid admitting his mistakes. Please, there's no way that Mom is going to believe some fairy tale like that. Just tell her the truth. I didn't want to get in trouble, so I told my teacher a fairy tale about my homework blowing away as I walked to school.
2. adjective Resembling a fantasy story, especially due to being entirely positive or happy or having a happy ending. In this usage, the phrase is usually hyphenated. I really want a fairy-tale wedding, complete with a beautiful gown and a fancy cake. It wasn't some fairy-tale marriage, you know. We had our problems. The championship victory is a fairy-tale ending for a team that just last year was ranked last in the league.
See also: fairy, tale

fairy-tale ending

A perfectly ideal ending or resolution (to something), as if it had been written for a fairy tale. The championship victory is a fairy-tale ending for a team that just last year was ranked last in the league. Unfortunately, fairy-tale endings aren't guaranteed in the real world, and our own love story ended in heartbreak. A: "Does any couple on a soap opera get a true fairy-tale ending?" B: "Only if the actors leave the show together. If they stick around, they're inevitably going to be involved in drama."
See also: ending

off with the fairies

Eccentric, distracted, or slightly crazy. I can't follow what your mom is talking about—it's like she's off with the fairies all of a sudden. I was always lost in daydreams and imaginary worlds when I was a kid. Everyone thought I was off with the fairies.
See also: fairy, off

sally fairy ann

obsolete slang It doesn't matter. Used as an expression of cynical resignation to or acceptance of a current state of affairs, especially one that had gone wrong to some degree. An English corruption of the French phrase ça ne fait rien, it became a catchphrase of British troops fighting in France during World War I. A: "The supply drop never arrived. It looks like we're eating potatoes again for the next week." B: "It bloody figures. Ah well, sally fairy ann."
See also: ann, fairy, sally

san fairy ann

obsolete slang It doesn't matter. Used as an expression of cynical resignation to or acceptance of a current state of affairs, especially one that had gone wrong to some degree. An English corruption of the French phrase ça ne fait rien, it became a catchphrase of British troops fighting in France during World War I. A: "The supply drop never arrived. It looks like we're eating potatoes again for the next week." B: "It bloody figures. Ah well, san fairy ann."
See also: ann, fairy, San

tooth fairy

1. A mythical fairy that exchanges money for children's baby teeth that have fallen out and been placed beneath their pillow at night. My sister believed in the tooth fairy until she was nearly 15. Look, Mom! The tooth fairy left me a whole dollar for my molar last night!
2. Any mythical benefactor or source of money. The tooth fairy isn't going to come along and fund this project for us.
See also: fairy, tooth
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms. © 2024 Farlex, Inc, all rights reserved.

fairy godmother

A generous benefactor, as in An anonymous fairy godmother donated the money for the new organ. This expression alludes to a stock character in fairy tales such as Cinderella, who gives unexpected and much needed assistance. [Late 1800s]
See also: fairy, godmother

tooth fairy

A mythical source of bounty, as in So who will finance this venture-the tooth fairy? This expression refers to the fairy credited with leaving money under a child's pillow in place of a baby tooth that has fallen out, a practice popular with American parents since the first half of the 1900s.
See also: fairy, tooth
The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer. Copyright © 2003, 1997 by The Christine Ammer 1992 Trust. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

away with the fairies

If you describe someone as being away with the fairies, you mean that they are crazy, have foolish or unreasonable opinions or do not notice things around them. She's very sweet and everything, but mentally, she's away with the fairies.
See also: away, fairy

a fairy godmother

A fairy godmother is a person, especially a woman, who helps someone a lot. When I began in the business, the woman I regarded as my fairy godmother was Sybil Thorndike. Our country needs a fairy godmother to pay its debts.
See also: fairy, godmother
Collins COBUILD Idioms Dictionary, 3rd ed. © HarperCollins Publishers 2012

(away) with the fairies

giving the impression of being mad, distracted, or in a dreamworld.
See also: fairy
Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary © Farlex 2017

a/your ˌfairy ˈgodmother

a person who helps you unexpectedly when you most need help: You’ll need a fairy godmother to get you out of your present difficulties.The fairy godmother is the magical character in the story of Cinderella who helps Cinderella go to the ball.
See also: fairy, godmother
Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary © Farlex 2017

airy-fairy

mod. insubstantial; of wishful thinking. I don’t care to hear any more of your airy-fairy ideas.

fairy

n. a male homosexual. (Rude and derogatory.) Bob got fired for calling Bill a fairy.

fairy tale

and bedtime story
n. a simplistic and condescending explanation for something; a lie. I don’t want to hear a fairy tale, just the facts, ma’am. I’ve already heard your little bedtime story. You’ll have to do better than that!
See also: fairy, tale
McGraw-Hill's Dictionary of American Slang and Colloquial Expressions Copyright © 2006 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved.
See also:
References in classic literature
Sometimes you will find mushrooms inside the ring, and these are fairy chairs that the servants have forgotten to clear away.
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"Of course," she said, "I am rather plain," and this made Maimie uncomfortable, for indeed the simple little creature was almost quite plain for a fairy.
The light, which was as high as your head above the ground, was composed of myriads of glow-worms all holding on to each other, and so forming a dazzling canopy over the fairy ring.
Thus in a single moment about fifty marriages took place, for if you leap into each other's arms it is a fairy wedding.
Trumpets brayed, the moon came out, and immediately a thousand couples seized hold of its rays as if they were ribbons in a May dance and waltzed in wild abandon round the fairy ring.
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Then he touched all the other birds with the flower, so that they all took their old forms again; and he took Jorinda home, where they were married, and lived happily together many years: and so did a good many other lads, whose maidens had been forced to sing in the old fairy's cages by themselves, much longer than they liked.
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These fair flowers, with the prayers of all Fairy Land, I lay before you; O send me not away till they are answered."
The King's stern face grew milder as he gazed on the gentle Fairy, and the flowers seemed to look beseechingly upon him; while their fragrant voices sounded softly in his ear, telling of their dying sisters, and of the joy it gives to bring happiness to the weak and sorrowing.
"I cannot grant your prayer, little Fairy; it is my will the flowers should die.
With her wand the Fairy broke the bands that held them, tenderly bound up their broken wings, and healed their wounds; while they lay in the warm light, and feebly hummed their thanks to their kind deliverer.
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The Fairy seemed to think that in that case I really wasn't worth the trouble of talking to, for he quietly went on digging, and tearing the flowers to pieces.
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"And do you hold any opinion?" the Fairy asked the Talking Cricket.
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"And so," he went on good-naturedly, "there ought to be one fairy for every boy and girl."
You see children know such a lot now, they soon don't believe in fairies, and every time a child says, `I don't believe in fairies,' there is a fairy somewhere that falls down dead."
"Peter," she cried, clutching him, "you don't mean to tell me that there is a fairy in this room!"
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