497
FBI, the
a German doctor and SCHOLAR of the early 16th century,
who practised magic. A story developed about him that he
had 'sold his soul to the Devil' in exchange for knowledge
and power. Many stories and pieces of music have been
written about him, including the plays Dr Faustus by Chris-
topher MARLOWE and Faust by GOETHE.
fau·vism /'fəʊvɪzəm/ n a movement in painting (1905–08)
using pure bright colours and including the work of the
painters Matisse and Braque
faux a·mi /ˌfəʊz 'æmi:/ n pl. faux amis (same pronunciation) Fr also
false friend a word in one language that looks like a word
in another but has a different meaning, e.g. the French word
'actuel' means 'current, present-day' in English and not
'actually'
faux pas /ˌfəʊ 'pɑː; 'fəʊ pɑ/ n pl. faux pas /ˌfəʊ 'pɑːz/ Fr a
social mistake in words or behaviour; GAFFE: He committed a
terrible faux pas when he called the Queen 'My dear'.
fa·va bean /'fɑːvə biːn/ n AmE for BROAD BEAN
fa·vour¹ BrE || favor AmE /'feɪvər/ n 1 [U] active approval: He
did all he could to win her favour. | I'm sure the president will
look with favour on such a proposal. | The idea is beginning to
gain widespread favour. | a movie director who seems to be in
favour (=popular) with the critics just now | I'm afraid I'm
out of favour (=unpopular) at the office at the moment. 2 [U]
unfairly generous treatment; (too much) sympathy or kind-
ness towards one person as compared to others: A mother
shouldn't show favour to one of her children. 3 [C] a kind act
that is not forced or necessary: As a special favour, I'll let you
stay up late tonight. | I want to ask a favour of you; will you
lend me your car? | Thanks a lot! I'll return the favour
sometime. | Would you do me a favour and turn off that
radio? | He will be in a position to dispense favours to his
supporters if he is elected. | (fml) We would esteem (=think) it a
great favour if you would reply at once. 4 [C] especially BrE a
piece of metal (BADGE) or of coloured cloth (RIBBON) worn to
show that one belongs to a particular political party, supports
a particular team etc 5 [C] AmE a small gift given to guests at
a party 6 in favour of a) approving of; on the side of or in
support of: Are you in favour of workers' control of
companies? | The committee came out in favour of (=decided
to support) the minister's proposals. b) choosing instead;
because of a PREFERENCE for: He turned down a university
appointment in favour of a political career. c) (of a cheque)
payable to: This cheque is made out in favour of the Cats
Protection Society. 7 in someone's/something's favour to
someone/something's advantage: The system tends to oper-
ate in favour of the wealthier classes. | The plan was this in its
favour, that it won't cost much. → see also FAVOURS, curry
favour (CURRY³), without fear or favour (FEAR¹)
favour² BrE || favor AmE — v [T] 1 to support or believe in (a
plan, idea, course of action etc); regard with favour: The
president is believed to favour further tax cuts. | This is the
least favoured option of all those available. 2 to be unfairly
fond of; treat (too) generously: Parents shouldn't favour one
of their children more than the others. 3 (of conditions) to
give support or advantage to; operate in favour of: The
system tends to favour those who have studied English. 4 to
look like (a relation): She favours her mother.
favour sbdy. with sthg. phr v [T] fml to give: Kindly favour
me with a reply at your earliest convenience.
fa·vour·a·ble BrE || favorable AmE /'feɪvərəbəl/ adj 1 (of a
message, answer etc) saying what one is pleased to hear;
expressing approval: I've been hearing favourable accounts of
your work. 2 winning favour and approval: The new man-
ager has created a very favourable impression. 3 [(to)] (of
conditions) advantageous: The company will lend you money
on very favourable terms. → opposite UNFAVOURABLE
—rably adv: Her book was favourably reviewed. | He speaks
favourably of you.
fa·voured BrE || favored AmE /'feɪvəd||-ərd/ adj 1 having
special advantages or desirable qualities: a house in a
favoured position (=in an attractive and convenient
area) 2 receiving unfairly generous treatment: All the best
seats were reserved for favoured customers. 3 [F+with] fml hav-
ing an appearance of the stated kind: She is favoured with
great beauty. | an ill-favoured child
fa·vou·rite¹ BrE || favorite AmE /'feɪvərɪt/ n 1 something or
someone that is loved above all others: I like all her books
but this one is my favourite. 2 someone who receives
unfairly generous treatment: A teacher shouldn't have favour-
ites in the class. 3 the one expected to win or succeed: I put
money on the favourite in the big horse race, but it came in
third. | John is favourite to become club president.
favourite² BrE || favorite AmE — adj [A] most loved; being a
favourite: Who's your favourite writer? | my favourite
record/movie/restaurant | his favourite subject of conversa-
tion → see LOVE (USAGE)
,favourite 'son n AmE a well-known person, usually a
politician, who is popular with the people in the area he
comes from: Idaho's favorite son in the primary election
fa·vou·ri·tism BrE || favoritism AmE /'feɪvərɪtɪzəm/ n [U]
derog the practice of giving unfairly generous treatment to
one person: Giving that job to his friend's son was a clear case
of favouritism.
fa·vours BrE || favors AmE /'feɪvəz||-ərz/ n [P] old-fash euph a
woman's agreement to sexual activity
Guy Fawkes
Fawkes, Guy /fɔːks/ (1570–1606) an English ROMAN CATHO-
LIC who was killed as punishment for his part in a secret
plan, known as the GUNPOWDER PLOT, to BLOW UP (=destroy
by an explosion) the HOUSES OF PARLIAMENT on November
5th, 1605. GUY FAWKES' NIGHT is celebrated every year on
November 5th in the UK. → see Feature on page A19
Fawlty, Basil → see FAWLTY TOWERS
Faw·lty Tow·ers /ˌfɔːlti 'taʊəz||-ərz/ a humorous British
television programme from the 1970s about a hotel called
Fawlty Towers, where things often go wrong and people
behave in strange and amusing ways. The owner of the hotel,
Basil Fawlty, is played by the actor John CLEESE and he often
has problems (which he usually causes himself) managing
the hotel and dealing with his wife, Sybil and with Manuel,
the WAITER.
fawn¹ /fɔːn/ n a young deer less than a year old
fawn² adj, n [U] (having) a light yellowish-brown colour
fawn³ v
fawn on/upon sbdy. phr v [T] 1 (especially of a dog) to
jump on, rub against etc, as an expression of love 2 derog to
try to gain the favour of (someone) by over-praising and
being insincerely attentive: It sickens me to see them fawning
on their rich uncle.
fax¹ /fæks/ v [T] to send (copies of printed material, letters,
pictures etc) using a system by which the information is sent
in ELECTRONIC form along a telephone line; used especially
in business: I'll fax the menu to you in the morning.
fax² n the printed material received or sent electronically by
the fax machine: Did you receive my fax? | I'm sending you a
fax. | Send it by fax.
'fax maˌchine n the machine which is used for sending or
receiving faxes
'fax ˌnumber n the telephone number which must be used
to send a fax to a particular fax machine
fay /feɪ/ n poet for FAIRY
faze /feɪz/ v [T] infml to surprise and shock (someone) so
much as to prevent speech or action: His actions didn't faze
me in the least; I expected him to behave badly.
FBI, the /ˌef biː 'aɪ/ abbrev. for the Federal Bureau of Investiga-
tion; the police department in the US which is controlled by
the national government, and which deals with serious
crimes that involve people or places in more than one of the