529
fold
fob¹ /fɒb||fɑːb/ v -bb-
fob sthg./sbdy. ⇔ off phr v [T] to wave aside; take no notice
of: He took no notice of our suggestions; he fobbed them/us off
and talked of something else.
fob sthg. ⇔ off on sbdy. phr v [T] to pass or sell to,
especially by deceit: He fobbed this painting off on me as a
genuine Renoir; but I later found out it was a fake. → compare
PALM OFF
fob sbdy. off with sthg. phr v [T] to persuade into accepting
(something worthless), especially by deceit: The salesman
fobbed the old lady off with a faulty machine. | Don't try and
fob me off with that feeble excuse again! → compare PALM OFF
fob² n 1 also 'fob chain a short chain or band of cloth to
which a FOB WATCH is fastened 2 a small decorative TAG
fixed to a key ring
FOB /ˌef əʊ 'biː/ adj abbrev. for free on board; an expression
used in business to state the price of goods at the place from
which they are sent to other places. This does not include
the cost of transport from that place to the buyer: All the
new car prices are quoted FOB Detroit.
'fob watch n a watch that fits into a pocket, or is pinned to a
woman's dress
fo·cal /'fəʊkəl/ adj [A] of a focus
,focal 'length n [(the) (of)] the distance from the middle of a
piece of glass (LENS) that collects light into one beam, to its
focus
'focal point n [(the) (of)] a central point; FOCUS: The fireplace is
the focal point of the room.
fo'c'sle /'fəʊksəl/ BrE || forecastle AmE — n the front part
of a ship, where the sailors live
fo·cus¹ /'fəʊkəs/ n pl. -cuses or -ci /kaɪ, saɪ/ 1 [C] the point
at which beams of light or heat or waves of sound meet after
their direction has been changed (e.g. by REFLECTION) 2 [(the)
(of)] a centre of attention, activity, or interest: She always
wants to be the focus of attention. | The new union will
provide a focus for discontented teachers. 3 in(to)/out of
focus (not) having, giving, or being a clear picture: This
photo of John isn't in focus; I can't see his face clearly.
focus² v -s- or -ss- 1 [I,T (on)] to come to or bring to a focus:
The beams of light moved across the sky and focused on the
aircraft. | All eyes were focused on him. (=Everyone was
looking at him.) 2 [I,T (on)] to direct (one's attention) to
something: Focus your attention on your work. | Today we're
going to focus on the question of homeless people. | He was
very tired and couldn't focus (=he couldn't give his full
attention) at all. 3 [T(on)] to arrange the LENS in (an instru-
ment) so as to obtain a clear picture (of): The astronomer
focused his telescope (on the moon).
'focus group n a group of people made up of members of the
public, who are asked questions by people doing MARKET
RESEARCH to find out about what people like and what they
want. Focus groups are used both by companies selling
products, and by political parties to see which policies will
be popular.
fod·der /'fɒdəʳ||'fɑː-/ n [U] 1 food for horses and farm
animals 2 derog things or people used for supplying a
continuous demand of the stated kind: 'We are just factory
fodder,' complained the workers. → see also CANNON FODDER
foe /fəʊ/ n lit an enemy
FoE /ˌef əʊ 'iː/ abbrev. for FRIENDS OF THE EARTH
'foetal po,sition, the the body position of an unborn
child inside the mother, in which the legs are drawn up
against the chest
foe·tus, fetus /'fiːtəs/ n a young human or other creature
before birth, especially at a later stage when all its parts have
been developed → compare EMBRYO ——tal adj
fog¹ /fɒɡ||fɑːɡ, fɔːɡ/ n [C,U] 1 (a state or time of) very thick
mist: She got lost in the fog. | There are patches of thick fog on
the motorway. | We often have bad fogs on the south coast
during winter. 2 mistiness on a photographic plate or film,
or on a print from such a film 3 in a fog infml in a confused
and uncertain state of mind: My son's in a complete fog about
his science lesson; he has no idea at all what it means.
fog² v -gg- 1 [I,T (UP)] to (cause to) become covered with fog:
The steam has fogged my glasses. | My glasses have fogged up
in this steamy room. | The light you let into the camera has
fogged the film. 2 [T] to confuse or hide: irrelevant accusa-
tions which fogged the real issues
fog·bound /'fɒɡbaʊnd||'fɑːɡ-, 'fɔːɡ-/ adj prevented by fog
from working or travelling as usual: fogbound air traffic
Fogg, Phil·e·as /fɒɡ||fɑːɡ, fɔːɡ, 'filiəs/ the main character
in the book AROUND THE WORLD IN EIGHTY DAYS by Jules
VERNE. Phileas Fogg is an Englishman who travels around the
world and has many adventures.
fog·gy /'fɒɡi||'fɑːɡi, 'fɔːɡi/ adj 1 not clear because of fog;
very misty: It's unpleasant to be out on a foggy day. 2 not
exact; unclear: I didn't hear all she said; I've only a foggy
idea/notion what it was all about. 3 not have the foggiest
(idea) infml not to know at all: 'What are you going to do this
evening?' 'I haven't the foggiest.' —gily adv —giness n [U]
'Foggy ,Bottom a humorous name given to the US STATE
DEPARTMENT because of the FOG (=thick mist) that often
surrounds its offices in Washington, D.C.
fog·horn /'fɒɡhɔːn||'fɑːɡhɔːrn, 'fɔːɡ-/ n a loud horn used as
a warning of fog by and to ships: She's got a voice like a
foghorn. (=a very loud unpleasant voice)
'fog lamp BrE || 'fog light AmE — n a lamp on the front of a
car or other vehicle that gives a strong beam of light to help
driving during fog
fo·gy, fogey /'fəʊɡi/ n derog a slow usually old person who
dislikes changes and does not understand modern ideas: The
judge was an old fogy and was completely out of touch with
modern life. | a young fogey (=a young person who does not
keep up with fashion or modern ideas)
foi·ble /'fɔɪbəl/ n a small rather strange and stupid personal
habit or weakness of character: My father was always buying
himself new hats; it was just one of his little foibles.
foie gras /ˌfwɑ 'ɡrɑː/ n [U] infml for PÂTÉ DE FOIE GRAS
foil¹ /fɔɪl/ v [T(in)] to prevent (someone) from succeeding in
(some plan): The thief was foiled in his attempt to enter the
house. | We foiled his attempt to escape.
foil² n 1 [U] (often in comb.) metal beaten or rolled into very thin
paperlike sheets: Milk bottle tops are made of tin foil. | Wrap
the chicken in foil before you cook it. 2 [U] paper covered with
this: Cigarettes are wrapped in foil to keep them fresh. 3 [C(for,
to)] a person or thing of a kind that makes the better or
different quality of another more noticeable: In the play, a
wicked old uncle acts as a foil to the noble young prince.
foil³ n a light narrow sword used in FENCING → compare,
SABRE
foist /fɔɪst/ v
foist sthg./sthg. on sbdy. phr v [T] 1 to cause (someone or
something unwanted) to be borne or suffered for a time by
(someone): They didn't invite him to go out with them, but he
foisted himself/his company on them. 2 [OFF] to pass or sell
to, especially by deceit: Don't trust that shopkeeper; he'll try
to foist damaged goods (off) on you.
Fok·ker /'fɒkəʳ||'fɑː-/ trademark 1 a type of military aircraft
used by the Germans in World War I and designed by
Anthony Fokker (1890-1939), a Dutch aircraft designer who
later moved to the US and made planes for the US aircraft
industry → see also JUNKERS, MESSERSCHMITT 2 a type of
plane made by the US company Fokker. Its best-known
aircraft is the Fokker Friendship.
fold¹ /fəʊld/ v 1 [T(UP)] to turn or press back one part of
(something, especially paper or cloth) and lay it on the
remaining part; bend into two or more parts: She folded the
handkerchief and put it in her pocket. | Fold up the tablecloth
and put it away, please. | The paper must be folded in half/into
quarters. → compare CREASE 2 [I] to be able to be bent
back; close up: Does this table fold? | These doors fold back
against the wall. | a folding bed 3 [T] to press (a pair of
limbs) together: He folded his arms. (=crossed them over his
chest) | The insect folded its wings. 4 [T+obj+adv/prep] to wrap;
cover: He found some seeds folded in a little piece of
paper. 5 [I(UP)] (especially of a business) to fail and close:
Our New York operation has folded. 6 [T,I] (in card games) to
put down (one's cards) to show that one can no longer play
in the game: He was sure the others had better hands so he
folded.
fold in phr v [T] 1 (fold sthg. ⇔ in) to mix (something
eatable) into a mixture that is to be cooked, by turning over
gently with a spoon: Fold in two eggs and then cook gently for