fancy (redirected from when the fancy takes)

fancy someone's chances

to have confidence in someone's [including one's own] ability to be successful. We all think she will refuse to go out with him, but he certainly fancies his own chances. The other contestants are so talented that I don't fancy his chances at all.

See also: chance

fancy someone as someone or something

to imagine that someone were someone else or some particular type of person. Can you fancy her as a zookeeper? I can fancy him as a tall, dark stranger. I really don't fancy myself as a farmer.

fancy footwork 

1. Lit. clever and intricate dance steps. The old man was known for his fancy footwork when he was on Broadway.

2. Lit. adroit movements of the feet that help someone retain balance or move through treacherous territory. It took some fancy footwork to get down the mountain carrying the injured child.

3. Fig. a clever and intricate strategy that helps someone get out of trouble. The governor did some fancy footwork to keep from getting blamed for the scandal.

Fancy meeting you here!

I am very surprised to meet you here! Tom: Hi, Sue! Fancy meeting you here! Sue: Hi, Tom. I was thinking the same thing about you. "Fancy meeting you here," said Mr. Franklin when he bumped into the company president at the racetrack.

See also: meeting

Fancy that! and Imagine that!

I am very surprised to hear that.; That is hard to imagine or believe. Mary: My father was elected president of the board. Sally: Fancy that! Sue: This computer is ten times faster than the one we had before. Jane: Imagine that! Is it easy to operate? Sue: Of course not.

flight of fancy

an idea or suggestion that is out of touch with reality or possibility. What is the point in indulging in flights of fancy about exotic vacations when you cannot even afford the rent?

See also: flight

footloose and fancy-free

Fig. without long-term responsibilities or commitments. All the rest of them have wives, but John is footloose and fancy-free. Mary never stays long in any job. She likes being footloose and fancy-free.

See also: and, footloose

strike someone's fancy

to appeal to someone. I'll have some ice cream, please. Chocolate strikes my fancy right now. Why don't you go to the store and buy a CD that strikes your fancy?

See also: strike

suit someone's fancy

to appeal to someone's imagination, fantasy, or preferences. Does this handbag suit your fancy, or would you prefer something larger? I think a big bowl of ice cream would suit my fancy quite nicely.

See also: suit

take a fancy to someone or something and take a liking to someone or something; take a shine to someone or something

to develop a fondness or a preference for someone or something. John began to take a fancy to Sally late last August at the picnic. I've never taken a liking to cooked carrots. I think my teacher has taken a shine to me.

See also: take

tickle someone's fancy

to interest someone; to make someone curious. I have an interesting problem here that I think will tickle your fancy. This doesn't tickle my fancy at all. This is dull and boring.

See also: tickle

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a flight of fancy/fantasy/imagination

an idea which shows a lot of imagination but which is not practical or useful in real situations You were talking about cycling across the US, or was that just another flight of fancy?

See also: flight

be footloose and fancy-free  (old-fashioned)

if someone is footloose and fancy-free, they can do what they want because they are not married or do not have many responsibilities Jane's planning to go to parties and clubs every night now that she's footloose and fancy-free.

See also: and, footloose

fancy-pants  (American & Australian informal)

trying to seem too attractive or too clever in a way that is false (always before noun) We liked the restaurant's food but not the fancy-pants decor. I don't know what she sees in that fancy-pants college professor of hers.

take/tickle somebody's fancy  (informal)

if something takes someone's fancy, they suddenly think it seems interesting She's got enough money to buy whatever takes her fancy.

See also: take

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strike somebody's fancy also catch somebody's fancy

to seem interesting or pleasing to someone She has enough money to buy whatever strikes her fancy.

Usage notes: sometimes used in the form tickle someone's fancy: Look through the gift catalog and see if anything tickles your fancy.

See also: strike

take a fancy to somebody/something

to start liking someone or wanting something very much I think my sister has taken a fancy to you.

See also: take