fancied

Everyday

1. If you fancied something, you wanted or liked the idea of it (mainly UK): «I fancied a cup of tea». tree →
2. (informal, UK) If you fancied someone, you found them attractive and had a crush on them. tree →
3. (old or formal) Fancied can mean imagined or believed, sometimes wrongly: «He fancied he heard a noise». tree →
4. In sport and racing, a fancied team or horse is one people think will win. tree →

In the lessons

In UK, Irish, Australian and New Zealand everyday speech, «fancy» is very common for wanting: «Fancy a game?». In playground talk, «he fancied her» means he had a crush. In older books, «she fancied herself a princess» means she imagined or thought she was. Phrases: «fancied a…», «fancied himself as», «the fancied team».

Examples

• I fancied pizza for dinner, so we ordered one. tree →
• She fancied a walk on the beach. tree →
• In Year 6 he fancied a girl in his class. tree →
• The fancied team lost in the first round. tree →
• He fancied he saw a ghost on the stairs. tree →
• She fancied herself as a great singer. tree →
• Did you fancy any of the cakes? tree →
• Suddenly he fancied he heard feet outside going pit-a-pat. tree →

Note

Spelling: fancy → fancied, fancies (y → i). «Fancy» also means decorated or posh (fancy dress, a fancy hotel). «Fancied himself» can mean he was proud or vain. American English says «I'd like» or «I feel like» more than «I fancy».