feel uneasy at something—feel troubled or anxious at the thought or sight of smth.: I felt uneasy at the thought of their going home alone at that late hour. Festival of Lanterns, the • Festival of Lights, the Festival of Lanterns, the—1. the concluding part of the new- year celebration according to the old Chinese calendar: The Festival of Lanterns takes place at the end of the Chinese New Year Celebration, on the fifteenth day of the first moon. 2. a great popular festival of Japan when the spirits of ancestors are supposed to revisit the household altars: For three days in mid July, Japanese Buddhists celebrate Obon, or the Festival of Lanterns . Festival of Lights, the—1. Hanukkah (the Jewish festival of lights commemorating the victory of the Maccabees over Anti- ochus of Syria): Hanukkah, the Jewish festival of lights , involves the lighting of candles for eight days. 2. Diwali (one of the major religious festivals in India, dedicated to the God- dess Kali): In India at Diwali, the festival of lights , houses are lit with candles and the Earth becomes like the heavens. fiery words • hot words fiery words—said of an ardent, passionate address, speech, etc.: Bert really inspired the crowd into action with his fiery words at the rally. hot words—words spoken in anger; a heated argument: He accused Valenti of drinking on the job, and after some hot words he sent Valenti home. fifth wheel • third wheel fifth wheel—said of a person or thing that is superfluous or needless: Look guys, I don’t know what’s going on, but I feel like a fifth wheel here. I should go. Note: The expression does not correlate in meaning with the phrase fifth quarter1. the summer quarter of studies: In the fifth quarter the student is encouraged to take no more than one course besides the four hours of thesis. 2. (dated butcher’s term) the hide and fat of a slaughtered animal: He claimed, and obtained the fifth quarter of the beef, as it is called (the hide and tallow) for his forbearance. third wheel—a third person to accompany a couple (with the implication that one is intruding on a couple): I find it tiring to be the third wheel , having to constantly walk behind a cou- ple holding hand. Note: The expression does not correlate in meaning with the phrase third rail—(U.S. coll.) a subject considered by politicians to be too controversial or dangerous to discuss: The conventional wisdom has long been that Social Security is the third rail of American politics. fight for something • fight over something fight for something—1. struggle to defend smth.: My Dad says we’ll all have to fight for our country when Der Tag comes. That’s German for the Day. 2. try in a determined way to get or achieve smth.: Having fought for the prize so long, Gordon is destined to find in it only disappointment. fight over something—1. struggle for the ownership of smth.: They were too apt to go to law and fight over their lands and fishing rights. 2. argue or struggle over an issue: The First World War was fought over a small thing. A mere scrap of paper. figure in something • figure on something figure in something—have a part in smth.; play a role in smth.: The ass has, since the time of the Greeks, figured in fables as the type of ignorance and stupidity. figure on something—(coll.) depend on smth.; plan on smth.: Don’t figure on going abroad this summer, we may not be able to afford it. figure someone in • figure someone out figure someone in—(coll.) add or include a person into one’s plans, etc. (also: count someone in): Please figure Ann in when you plan the party. figure someone out—(also: make someone out) understand a person’s character: We are stuck with the guy for four years, so we’ll have plenty of time to figure him out . figurehead • head figure figurehead—1. a carving, usually a bust or a full-length figure, decorating the prow of a ship: The adornment of ships with figureheads could be traced back to Phoenician times. 2. a person who holds an important office yet has little actual power: The constitution allots so much power to the board of governors that the president is often regarded as merely a figurehead . head figure —a leading person who guides and directs: It was not long before Coke, who was now the head figure in Par- liament, vigorously began an inquiry. fill in for someone • fill someone in fill in for someone—carry out the duties of a fellow employee, absent through sickness, etc.: My partner is on holiday so I’m filling in for him. fill someone in—give a person full details about smth.: Can you fill me in on what has been happening since I left here? find one’s voice • lose one’s voice find one’s voice—1. (also: find one’s tongue) be able to speak again after a shock, horror, etc. which has left one speechless: From his seat in the corner, Dave finally found his voice . “What happened? And when?” 2. (of a writer, painter, etc.) become truly creative and develop a style of one’s own: Andy had found his voice as a composer, of course, but also as a teacher and as an administrator. lose one’s voice—be hardly able to speak, especially due to having a sore throat: After a mild cold earlier this week I was feeling better but overnight I lost my voice —I could barely talk at all today. Note: The expression does not correlate in meaning with the phrase lose one’s tongue—be left speechless with shock, horror, etc.: Now he seems to have lost his tongue , he can’t seem to get out the words his supporters are urging him to say. find oneself • lose oneself find oneself—1. become conscious of being in a certain place or state: When he regained consciousness, he found himself in the hospital. 2. discover one’s vocation; realize one’s capa- bilities: After the war he couldn’t find himself . He was too big of a man to start over. lose oneself—1. lose one’s way: It’s easy to lose yourself in this big building. 2. fall asleep: I lost myself for a few minutes during the long sermon. 3. get confused: He lost himself , so many eyes were turned towards him. 4. give all one’s attention to smth.: I like to sit by the fire and lose myself in a good book. 5. get out of sight; disappear: The escaping prisoner was able to lose himself in the crowd. fine as a fiddle • fine as fivepence fine as a fiddle(also: fit as a fiddle) in excellent form or health: There you are, Stanley. Looking as fine as a fiddle . fine as fivepence —(also: fine as five pence) 1. (of clothes) smart or becoming: Theodore’s own clothing looked as fine as five pence . 2. (of people) smartly dressed: Kitty … could not com- pete with Anne, who was fine as fivepence in a violet pelisse and bonnet. finish off with something • finish with something finish off with something—1. end up one’s meal with smth.: – 119 – finish off with something