523
float
JOSEPH, MARY, and the baby JESUS run away to Egypt to escape from King HEROD, who has ordered all male babies to be killed → see also MASSACRE OF THE INNOCENTS, SLAUGHTER OF THE INNOCENTS
flight-less /'flaɪtləs/ adj unable to fly: a flightless bird
'flight lieu, tenant n a rank in the British airforce → see TABLE 3
'flight path n the (planned) course which a plane, spacecraft etc takes
'flight re,corder also flight data recorder fm!, black box infml — n a piece of equipment in an aircraft which records the speed at which the aircraft travels, the direction in which it travels etc. This information is used to explain what has happened if an aircraft crashes.
'flight ,sergeant n a rank in the British airforce → see TABLE 3
flight-y /'flaɪti/ adj (especially of a woman or a woman's behaviour) unsteady; too influenced by sudden desires or ideas; often changing, especially from one lover to another —ily adv —iness n [U]
flim-flam /'flɪmflæm/ v [T] to trick or deceive for personal gain: He was going door-to-door flimflamming old ladies. —flimflam adj: a flimflam man
flim-sy /'flɪmzi/ adj 1 (of material) light and thin: She felt cold in her flimsy dress. 2 (of an object) easily broken or destroyed; lacking strength: a flimsy old wooden shed 3 weak; that does not CONVINCE: What a flimsy excuse! —sily adv —siness n [U]
flinch /flɪnt/ v [I(from)] to move back when shocked by pain, or in fear of something unpleasant; WINCE: She didn't flinch once when the doctor was cleaning the wound. I (fig.) I flinched from telling her the news.
fling¹ /flɪŋ/ v flung /flʌŋ/ 1 [T+obj+adv/prep] to throw violently or with force, especially with lack of care for the object that is thrown: She flung her shoe at the cat. | Every morning he flings the windows open and breathes deeply. | (fig.) The military government flung its opponents into prison. 2 [I+adv/prep; T+obj+adv/prep] to move (oneself or part of one's body) quickly or with force: The two old friends flung their arms round one another in delight. | He flung out of the room in a violent rage. 3 fling oneself into to begin to do (something) with great eagerness: He flung himself into the job with great enthusiasm. 4 fling up one's hands in horror to show signs of being very shocked
fling² n [S] 1 an occasion or period of enjoying oneself, often with no sense of responsibility: Let's have a fling and eat at that expensive restaurant for a change. | a final fling before getting married 2 have a fling (at) to make an attempt (at) → see also HIGHLAND FLING
flint /flɪnt/ n 1 [C,U] (a piece of) very hard grey stone that makes small flashes of flame when struck against steel 2 [C] a small piece of iron or other metal that makes a small flash of flame when struck, used in cigarette LIGHTERS to light the gas or petrol —flinty adj
flint-lock /'flɪntlɒk||-lɑːk/ n a type of gun used in former times
Flint-stones, The /'flɪntstəʊnz/ a humorous US television CARTOON programme, about a family from the STONE AGE who live in a town called Bedrock. Fred Flintstone is the father, and is married to Wilma. They have a daughter called Pebbles and a pet DINOSAUR called Dino. Their best friends are Barney and Betty Rubble. The programme always begins when Fred finishes work for the day and shouts out 'Yabba Dabba Doo'.
flip¹ /flɪp/ v -pp- 1 [T] to send (something) spinning, often into the air, by striking with a light quick blow: They flipped a coin to decide who would go first. 2 [I] slang also flip one's lid — a) to become mad or very angry: My brother really flipped when I told him I'd smashed up his car. b) to become full of excitement and interest: I knew you'd flip when you saw my new car. 3 flip someone the bird AmE infml to flip someone off
flip off phr v [T(= flip sbdy. ⇄ off)] AmE informal to move the middle finger upwards in the direction of someone with whom one is angry, in an extremely offensive way: The cabbie flipped off the driver who cut in front of him. → give someone the finger (FINGER)
flip out phr v [I] AmE infml 1 to become very angry: He flipped out when I told him his car was totalled. 2 to lose one's mind: His mother flipped out and had to be institutionalized.
flip over phr v [I;T (= flip sthg. ⇄ over)] to turn over: The pages of the magazine flipped over in the breeze. | He flipped the egg over in the pan.
flip through sthg. phr v [T] to read or look at (a book, paper etc) rapidly or carelessly
flip² n 1 [C] a quick light blow, especially one that sends something spinning into the air: the flip of a coin 2 [C] a SOMERSAULT especially when performed in the air
flip³ adj -pp- infml flippant: a flip remark
'flip-flop¹ BrE || also thongs AmE — n 1 [usually pl.] a type of open shoe (SANDAL), which is usually made of rubber and is held on by the toes and loose at the back → see PAIR (USAGE) 2 AmE infml a change of mind: He has done so many flip-flops no one knows what he really thinks.
flip-flop² v AmE infml [I] to change one's mind: If he continues to flip-flop on this issue, the decision will be made for him.
flip-pant /'flɪpənt/ adj disrespectful about serious subjects, especially when trying to be amusing: A hospital is scarcely the place for such flippant remarks about death. —ly adv —pancy n [U]
flip-per /'flɪpər/ n 1 a limb of certain large sea animals, especially SEALS with a flat edge used for swimming 2 also fin AmE a rubber shoe shaped like an animal's flipper, worn when swimming, especially under water → see PAIR (USAGE)
Flipper a US television programme from the 1960s in which a family become friends with a DOLPHIN that they call 'Flipper'
flip-ping /'flɪpɪŋ/ adj, adv [A] BrE euph slang BLOODY: Don't be so flipping rude!
'flip side, the n 1 the side of a record that has a song or piece of music on that is of less interest or less popular than that on the other side 2 the opposite, usually bad, side of a question or situation: The flip side is that it may cause more pollution.
flirt¹ /flɜːt||flɜːrt/ v [I(with)] to behave with a member of the opposite sex in a way that attracts (sexual) interest and attention: I don't like going to parties because my husband always flirts with every woman in the room.
flirt with sthg. phr v [T no pass.] 1 to think about, but not very seriously: I've been flirting with the idea of changing my job, but I probably won't. 2 to risk, especially needlessly or lightly: Bullfighters regularly flirt with death.
flirt² n usually derog a person, especially a woman, who regularly flirts with members of the opposite sex
flir-ta-tion /flɜː'teʃən||flɜːr-/ n 1 [U] the act of flirting 2 [C] a short love affair which is not serious 3 [C(with)] a passing interest in or connection with something: After a brief flirtation with ancient languages, she finally settled on history as her subject of study.
flir-ta-tious /flɜː'teɪʃəs||flɜːr-/ adj tending to flirt: a flirtatious young girl | He had a flirtatious twinkle in his eye. —ly adv —ness n [U]
flit /flɪt/ v -tt- [I+adv/prep] to fly or move lightly or quickly: The birds flitted (about) from branch to branch. → see also MOONLIGHT FLIT
float¹ /fləʊt/ v 1 [I;T] to (cause to) stay on the surface of a liquid without sinking: Does this type of wood float? | We are trying to float the sunken ship. 2 [I+adv/prep; T+obj+adv/prep] to (cause to) move easily and lightly as on moving liquid or air: The logs floated down the river. | We floated the canoe out into the middle of the river. 3 [I+adv/prep] to move aimlessly from place to place; DRIFT: The old man floats from town to town with nowhere to go and nothing to do. 4 [T] to suggest; offer for consideration: The idea was first floated before the war. 5 [T] to establish (a business, company etc) by selling shares → see also FLOTATION 6 [I;T] to (allow to) vary freely in value against other countries' money from day to day: It was decided to float the pound because having a fixed value was damaging exports. 7 [T] AmE to write (a cheque) which one does not have enough money in the bank to pay: He personally floated cheques worth $56,000. —er n
float² n 1 something that floats, especially a piece of wood or other light object used on a fishing line or to support the edge of a fishing net → see also DEAD-MAN'S FLOAT 2 AmE