to be completed (also: drop through): When wedding plans fell through , she decided that a holiday was the best way to get over it. familiar to someone • familiar with someone familiar to someone—well-known to a person: The story is presented in a manner familiar to all radio-listeners. familiar with someone—1. acquainted with or knowing a person: I confess that I am not familiar with this writer. 2. on friendly terms or intimate with smb.: Do you address him as “Tom” or as “Mr. Green”? Don’t be too familiar with him. family doctor • house physician family doctor—a general practitioner: The family doctor is often the first person that people talk to about their con- cerns. house physician —a usually resident physician in a hospital, etc.: Mrs. Parish was removed to the institution, where the house physician took charge of the case. family man • man of family family man —a man with a family; a man dedicated to his family: We don’t see much of him now that he has become a family man . man of family —1. = family man: Soon he will be a husband and then a man of family and all will be serious. 2. a man of noble birth: The baron’s cadet cannot avail himself of the pub- lic schools because such a step would disclass the man of fam - ily . fancy man • fantasy man fancy man—(sl.) a woman’s lover: You won’t get one hus- band in ten feels any thanks to the wife’s fancy man for the happiness he brings to the marriage. Note: The expression does not correlate in meaning with the phrase fancy Dan—(U.S. sl.) a showy but ineffective worker or sportsman: The amateur and professional ranks today are clut- tered with “fancy Dans .” fantasy man —a perfect man a woman would like to be with: She takes a cruise hoping to meet her fantasy man . She meets a man all right… far and away • far and wide far and away —clearly; without a doubt: He is far and away the best-prepared candidate for the Presidency. far and wide—over a large area: You will search far and wide before meeting another friend like him. fare well • farewell fare well—do well; excel: American companies generally fare well in this sector and dominate the market. farewell—1. marking smb.’s departure or death: My spirits were lifted by America’s fond farewell to Ronald Reagan. 2. used as an expression of good wishes on parting: So, fare- well and my thanks for the opportunities you have provided us. fast food • slow food fast food —inexpensive food prepared and served quickly at a fast-food restaurant: Fast food is a multi-billion dollar indus- try which is continuing to grow at a rapid pace as fewer people cook at home. slow food—a movement that emphasizes organic growing methods and culinary culture: Instead of drive-up burgers, slow food followers carve out a little time to appreciate locally grown food. fast lane • fast track fast lane —1. the traffic lane for vehicles that are moving rap- idly: Taxi drivers claim that when traffic breaks down, the fast lane breaks down first so they move immediately to the right lane. 2. a hectic and pressured lifestyle often characterized by recklessness or dissipation: He lived in the fast-lane of his times—hard drinking, gambling, and all the other stuff. fast track—the quickest route or means to achievement of a goal: Haiti’s past has taught him that elections do not nec- essarily put a country on a fast track to democracy. fast one • quick one fast one —(sl.) a clever and unexpected trick giving the per- son unfair advantage (usually in the phrase “pull a fast one”): The thought that a girl capable of thinking up a fast one like that should be throwing herself away on Eggleston was infinitely saddening. quick one —(sl.) 1. a quick drink of liquor or a beer con- sumed rapidly: We’ve time for a quick one and then we’ll go and do our bit of business. 2. a brief and brisk sex act: I’m not saying that an unexpected quick one can’t be fantastic. … If you’re working a lot you’ll probably need to schedule in time for sex. fatal accident • fateful accident fatal accident—an unfortunate event that results in death: Violations of mandatory mine safety laws led to the fatal acci - dent taking the lives of five miners. fateful accident—an event that may have catastrophic con- sequences, yet not necessarily result in death: Not long after the fateful accident that left him dishonorably discharged, he lost his wife. father of the chapel • father-in-church father of the chapel—(UK publishing and printing industries) a shop steward representing union members in negotiations, etc.: My grandfather was father of the chapel at one of the big newspapers. father-in-church —the relative or friend who “gives away” a bride: “I shall want you to stand father-in-church to this young lady,” said Geoffrey to the clerk. Father of the House, the • house father Father of the House, the—(UK) the oldest member of Par- liament (with reference to duration of membership): The most important duty of the Father of the House is to preside over the election of a new speaker. house father— a man looking after a group of children in an institution: There were in these places no “house-fathers ” for the girls, though there were “house-mothers” for both girls and boys. feather bed • feather-bedding feather bed—said of a markedly easy and comfortable state or position: Feather beds for farmers have been a feature of post-war Europe. feather-bedding —the employment of excess staff, usually under a union rule: Feather bedding has come about as a con- sequence of workers being laid off because of technological change. feed off something • feed on something feed off something—1. use smth. as food: Blacktip sharks are reef sharks; they feed off fish living in the coral, and are not interested in big mammals. 2. use smth. to advantage (usually with negative implication): They feed off our desire to smoke and the miseries of our lives that caused most of us to start smoking. – 117 – feed off something