fan

*fan of someone

to be a follower of someone; to idolize someone. (*Typically: be ~; become ~.) My mother is still a fan of the Beatles. I'm a great fan of the mayor of the town.

fan something out

to spread something out so that all parts can be seen better. (As one opens a wood and paper fan.) Todd fanned the cards out so we could see which ones he held. He fanned out the cards.

See also: out

fan out

Fig. to spread out over a wide area. The searchers fanned out, looking for the child lost in the woods. Let's fan out and search a wider area.

See also: out

fan out (from some place)

to spread outward from a particular area. The paths seem to fan out from the wide trail that starts at the house. The trails fanned out and soon we were all separated.

See also: out

fan the breeze

Fig. to chat or gossip. We're just fanning the breeze, so you didn't interrupt anything. Stop fanning the breeze and get to work.

See also: breeze

fan the flames (of something)

Fig. to make something more intense; to make a situation worse. The riot fanned the flames of racial hatred even more. The hostility in the school is bad enough without anyone fanning the flames.

See also: flame

hit the fan

Inf. Fig. to become publicly known; to become a scandal. (From the phrase when the shit hit the fan.) I wasn't even in the country when it hit the fan. It hit the fan, and within ten minutes the press had spread it all over the world.

See also: hit

when the shit hits the fan

Sl. when all the expected trouble materializes. When the shit hits the fan, you had better be prepared to support those of us who are involved in this mess.

See also: hit, shit

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fan the flames

to cause anger or other bad feelings to increase (usually + of ) His speeches fanned the flames of racial tension.

See also: flame

the shit hits the fan  (taboo)

if the shit hits the fan, a person or an organization gets into serious trouble If Dad finds out how much money you spent, the shit will really hit the fan.

See scare the shit out of

See also: hit, shit

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something hits the fan (slang)

bad things develop or suddenly become known After I learned I had cancer, I realized you need laughter more than ever when things hit the fan.

Related vocabulary: the shit hits the fan

See also: hit

fan out

to spread over a wide area The police fanned out across the park.

Etymology: based on the literal meaning of fan (a device you open and wave in front of you to cool yourself)

See also: out

fan the flames (of something)

to cause an increase in negative feelings These images of war could be used to fan the flames of hatred against our country.

Etymology: based on the literal meaning of fan the flames (to cause air to flow toward a fire)

See also: flame

the shit hits the fan (rude)

extremely unpleasant things happen and become known The company's busy season was upon them once more, and the shit was hitting the fan.

Related vocabulary: something hits the fan

See also: hit, shit