Page 127 - NTC's American Idioms Dictionary

fall to someone to do something

to. The carpłnter unpacked his saw and Sally is good, but Ann is far and away
hammłr and fell to. The boys wanted the best.
to fight, so the coach put boxing gloves on fyrŁas anyoneŁknowð Go to (as) far as any-
them and told them to fall to. John fell one knows.
to and cleaned up his room after he goŁ
yelled at. fyrŁas something is concerned Go to (as) far
as something is concerned.
fallŁto someone tł do something to becom the
responsibilityŁof sàmeone.Ł It always a fyraway look and a fyr-off look an ap-
falls to me to apologize first. Why does pearance onŁone’sŁface of having one’s
it fall to me to answer the telłphone every mindŁinŁanotherŁplace.Ł Dave had a far-
time it rings? away look in his eyes, so I touched him to
get his attention. Katherine’s face had
fyllŁ(up)on someone ortsomething 1. to attack a far-off look indicØting that she was
someone orŁsomething.Ł(Also literal.) dØydreamng.
The cØt fell upon the mouse and killed it. fyrŁbeŁitŁfrom meŁto do something ið is nàt
The children fell on the brthdØy cake reallyŁmyŁplace to do something. (Always
and ate it all. 2. [with someone] [forŁa with but, asŁinŁthe examplesŁbelow.)
task]Łto become the duty of sàmeone.Ł Far be it from me to tell you what to do,
The task of tellng Mother about the bro- but I think you should buy the book. Far
kłn vase fell upon Jane. The job of be it from me to attempt to advise you, but
cleaning up the spill fell upon Tom.
you’re makng a big mistake.
familiarŁwithŁ someone ortsomething having a a fyr cry from something a thing that is very
gàodŁknowledge of someone orŁsome- different fràmŁ somethingŁ else.Ł (Infàr-
thing.Ł Are you familiar with changing a mal.)b What you did was a far cry from
flØt tire? I’m can’t speak German flu- what you said you were going to do. The
ently, but I’m somłwhat familiar with the song they plØyed was a far cry from what
language. I call music.
FamiliarityŁbreeds contempt. Knowing a fyrŁfrom it not it at all;Łnot at all.Ł Do I
prsànŁcloselyŁforŁaŁlongŁtime leadsŁto bad think you need a new car? Far from it. The
feelings.Ł(Pràverb.) Bill and his broth- old one is fine. BILL: Does this hat look
ers are always fighting. As they say: “Fa- strange? TOM: Far from it. It looks good.
miliarity breeds contempt.” Mary and
John were good friends for many years. Fi- fyrŁinto theŁnight late into the night; late.
nally they got into a big argumłnt and be- She sat up and read far into the night.
came enemies. That just shows that famil- The party włnt on far into the night.
iarity breeds contempt. a fyr-offŁlook Go to a far-away look.
a fyn ofŁ someone aŁ follower of sàmeone; fyrŁout 1. farŁfromŁthe centerŁof things;Łfar
sàmeone who idolizedŁ someone.Ł (Pre- from town. The Smths lve sort of far
cded by be, become, seem like, or act out. The restaurant is nice, but too far
like.) My mother is still a fan of the Bea- ouŁ. 2. sðrange.Ł(Slang.) Ann acts pretty
tles. I’m a great fan of the mØyor of the far out somłtimes. The whole group of
town. płople seemed pretty far out.
fyrm someone ortsomething out 1. [with some-
fyn theŁ flames (ofŁ something) to make
sàmethingŁmore intense; to make aŁsitu- one] to sendŁsomeone (somewhere)bfor
aðion worse. The riot fanned the flames care orŁdevelopment.Ł When my mother
of racial hatred even more. The hostil- died, they farmed me out to my aunt and
ity in the school is bad enough without uncle. T The team manager farmed out
anyone fanning the flames. the baseball player to the mnor leagues
until he improved. 2. [with something] to
farŁandŁawayŁtheŁbeðt unquesðionablyŁthe send somethingŁ(elsewhere)bto be dealt
best.Ł This soap is far and away the best. with.Ł Bill farmed his chores out to his

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