fancy

Everyday

1. Fancy means decorated, special or expensive, not plain. tree →
2. In British, Australian and Irish English, to fancy something is to want it or like the idea of it: «Do you fancy a biscuit?» tree →
3. To fancy someone is to have a crush on them. tree →
4. A fancy is a liking or an idea in your head; «take a fancy to» means start to like. tree →
5. Fancy is an exclamation of surprise meaning "just imagine!" tree →

In the lessons

In everyday life fancy clothes, fancy cakes and fancy restaurants are for special occasions; a fancy-dress party is a costume party (UK). In maths, «fancy» is never needed; a plain method is fine. Phrases: «fancy dress», «Do you fancy...?», «take a fancy to», «nothing fancy», «Fancy that!» (how surprising).

Examples

• She wore a fancy dress with sparkles to the wedding. tree →
• Do you fancy a game of football? tree →
• We went to a fancy-dress party as pirates. tree →
• The cake had fancy icing on top. tree →
• Nothing fancy, just a sandwich, please. tree →
• The cat took a fancy to my new jumper. tree →
• Fancy meeting you here! tree →
• Fancy my being afraid of a lion! tree →

Note

Spelling: fancier, fanciest, fancies, fancied (y to i). «Fancy dress» in the UK means a costume, not a smart dress; Americans say «costume party». «Fancy» meaning «want» is less common in the USA.