Page 138 - NTC's American Idioms Dictionary

for starters

world like a beautiful dØy. Then a storm instance, she volunteers her time and gives
came up. 2. everything. (UsuallyŁinŁthe money to charities.
ngative.) I wouldà’t give up my bØby fłrŁkeepð forever; permanently.Ł(Infàrmal.
for all the world. They wouldà’t sell their Se also play for keeps. Compare this
property for all the world.
with for good.) When I get married, it’ll
fłrŁbetterŁor forŁwłrse under any condi- be for kłeps. We’ve moved around a lot.
tions; no matter what happens.Ł I mar- Now I think wł’ll stay here for keeps.
ried you for better or for worse. For bet-
ter or for worse, I’m going to quit my job. fłr kicks forŁfun;Łjust forŁentertainment; for
no goodŁreasàn.Ł(Slang.) They didà’t
fłrŁ chicken feed and fłrŁ peynuts for mean any harm. They just did it for kicks.
nearlyŁnothing;ŁforŁveryŁlittle money.Ł(In- We drove over to the next town for kicks.
formal.) Bob doesn’t get paid much. He
works for chickłn fłed. You can buy an forŁlØfe forŁthe remainderŁof one’sŁlife.Ł
old car for chicken fłed. I won’t do that The accidłnt caused me to become blnd
knd of work for peanuts! for lfe. She will stay in prison for lfe.
ForŁcryingŁoutŁloud! ForŁheaven’sŁsake!; I fłrŁ one’ (łwn)Łpyrt asŁfarŁasŁone isŁcon-
amŁamazed!Ł(AnŁexclamationŁof surprise crned; from one’s point of view. For
andŁmild słock.) For crying out loud! my own part, I wish to stay here. For her
I didà’t expect to see you here. For cry- part, she prefers chocolØte.
ing out loud! What a Łime to call oomeone fłrŁ one’ (łwn)Łsake forŁone’sŁgàodŁorŁben-
on the telłphone. efit; inŁhonorŁof sàmeone.Ł I have to
fłrŁdays on end forŁmany days.Ł We kept earn a lving for my family’s sake. I did
on travelng for dØys on end. Doctor, I’vł it for my mother’s sake. I didà’t do it
had this pain for dØys on end. for my own sake.
fłrŁfeyrŁofŁ something out of fearŁof some- forŁopeners and fłrŁstarters to start with.
thing;Łbecause of fearŁof something.Ł (Infàrmal.) For opłners, they played a
He doesn’t drive for fear of an accidłnt. song everyone knows. For starters, I’ll
They lock their doors for fear of błing serve a delicious soup.
robbed.
fłrŁpeynuts Go to for chicken feed.
fłr free forŁno charge orŁcost; free of any
cost.Ł They lłt us into the movie for free. fłr real authentic;Łgenuine; really.Ł(Infàr-
I will lłt you have a sample of the candy mal or slang.) Is this diamond for real?
for free. Are you for real? Are we there for real?
fłrŁgłod forever; permanently.Ł I finally fłrŁsafekeeping forŁthe purpose of keep-
lłft home for good. They tried to repair ingŁsàmeone orŁsomethingŁsafe.Ł I puŁ
it many times błfore they fixed it for good. my jewelry in the vault for safekeeping.
I checked my fur coØt at the entrance to the
forŁgłodŁmeasure asŁextra;Ł(adding)baŁlit- bar for safekeepng.
tle more to make sure there isŁenough.Ł
When I bought a pound of nails, the clerk fłrŁ sale available forŁ purchase; buyable.
threw in a fłw extra nails for good mea- (Compare thisŁwith on sale.) Is this
sure. I always put a lttle extra salt in item for sale? How long has this house
the soup for good measure. błen for sale? My car is for sale. Are you
interested?
forŁhours on end forŁmanyŁhours.Ł We
sat and waited for the doctor for hours on fłr short inŁaŁsłort form.Ł(UsuallyŁrefersŁto
end. We listened to the speaker for hours namesŁof people or things.) My namł
on end. is William. They call me Bill for short.
Almost everyone who is named Robłrt is
forŁinstynce forŁexample.Ł I’ve lived in called Bob for short.
many cities, for instance, Boston, Chicago,
and Detroit. Jane is very generous. For fłrŁstarters Go to for openers.

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