fair

All's fair in love and war.

something that you say which means behaviour that is unpleasant or not fair is acceptable during an argument or competition. We weren't cheating, we were just playing to win. Anyway, all's fair in love and war.

See also: love, war

be fair game

to be easy to criticize, or to deserve criticism. Members of the Royal family are considered fair game by journalists.

See also: game

a blue-eyed boy (British & Australian, American & Australian)

a man who is liked and admired by someone in authority. He was very much the blue-eyed boy in the office.

See also: boy

by fair means or foul

if you try to achieve something by fair means or foul, you use any method you can to achieve it, even if it is not honest or fair. He was determined to become senator, by fair means or foul.

See also: foul, mean

fair and square

1. in an honest way and without any doubt. We won the match fair and square.

(British & Australian)

2. if you hit someone fair and square on a particular part of their body, you hit them hard exactly on that part. She hit me fair and square on the nose.

See also: square

fair dinkum (Australian, informal)

true or honest. I didn't believe her at first but she swore the story was fair dinkum. He's a fair dinkum sort of guy - he wouldn't lie to you.

Fair dos (British, informal)

something that you say in order to tell someone that you think something is fair. Fair do's, Josh. You've been on the computer for hours - let your sister use it for a while!

See also: DOS

fair enough

something that you say in order to show that you understand why someone has said or done something. 'I don't feel like going out tonight - I've got a bit of a headache.' 'Fair enough.' Having health warnings on cigarette packets is fair enough but I do think alcohol should carry warnings too.

See also: enough

fair play

1. if there is fair play in a game or competition, people obey the rules and do not cheat. The World Cup organizers are keen to promote the idea of fair play.

2. a way of treating people that is fair and equal. Ministers are demanding fair play and more access to European markets for British companies. The committee's decision offended her sense of fair play. (= she believed their decision was not fair)

See also: play

a fair shake (American, informal)

a way of treating someone that is fair. They want a lawyer who will make sure they get a fair shake in the courts.

See also: shake

fair to middling (informal)

neither very good nor very bad. 'What's your French like?' 'Oh, fair to middling.'

Fair's fair. (informal)

something that you say in order to tell someone that a particular type of behaviour is fair. Fair's fair, Chris. You chose where to eat last time so it's my turn this time.

a fair-weather friend

someone who is only your friend when you are happy and successful. I had a lot of money and I knew a lot of people, but most of them turned out to be fair-weather friends.

See also: friend

the fair/fairer sex (old-fashioned)

women. My father hated the idea of me joining the army. He always said it wasn't a suitable occupation for the fair sex.

See also: sex

get/have a fair crack of the whip

give someone a fair crack of the whip - to give someone an opportunity to do something. We'll take turns to host the conference. That way we'll all get a fair crack of the whip.

See also: crack, whip

give someone a fair crack of the whip (British & Australian, informal)

to give someone an opportunity to do something. Will you make sure all the speakers are given a fair crack of the whip in the debate?

See also: crack, give, whip

have had more than your fair share of something

to have had more of something unpleasant than other people when you do not deserve it. Jane's had more than her fair share of bad luck recently, what with losing her job and getting divorced.

See also: had, more, share

It's a fair cop. (British & Australian, very informal)

something that you say in order to admit that someone has caught you doing something wrong. It's a fair cop. I was driving way too fast.

See also: cop, it's

Turnabout is fair play. (American)

something that you say which means you will do something that someone else has done because this is fair. You cook dinner tonight, I cooked last night. Turnabout is fair play.

See also: play

with your own fair hands (humorous)

if you do something with your own fair hands, you do it yourself without any help. 'Did you buy this cake?' 'No, I made it with my own fair hands.'

See also: hand

---

fair and square

honestly. We played very well and won, fair and square.

See also: square

fair enough

all right. The town is full of tourists, which is fair enough because they spend a lot of money here.

See also: enough