Word of the Day: Fancy
If something is beautiful, ornate, elegant, sophisticated, or expensive it might be fancy.
- He drives a big, fancy car.
- That’s quite a fancy house they live in.
- I don’t want anything fancy for the living room. Let’s keep the furniture and the decorating simple.
- Lindsey likes to wear large, fancy earrings.
- Dancers are known for their fancy footwork.
- She likes to wear fancy clothes and fancy jewelry.
The meaning of the word “fancy” can have an intended, negative meaning, depending on the situation and the person who uses the word:
- He’s wearing his fancy pants to work. (“Fancy pants” are shorts or pants that are noticeably unusual.)
- Let’s not get too fancy.
- Who do you think you are by trying to be all fancy?
- Thomas has a lot of fancy degrees, but that doesn’t mean he’s qualified for the job.
- He’s a fancy boy. (This could mean a man is gay.)
It’s possible to use “fancy” as a verb, but this usage is often considered archaic (old and out of style).
- She fancies him. (She likes him.)
- Neither person fancies the idea of getting a dog. (They don’t to get a dog.)
In these next sentences, “fancy” is a noun, but the usage is considered to be old-fashioned:
- He took a fancy to her. (He liked her.)
- She has a fancy for jewelry. (She likes jewelry.)
Essential English Dictionary
Visit the Popular English Words Beginning with F page to see the list of all words starting with letter F. For seeing the HiCafe dictionary, visit the Popular English Words with Meaning page.