/ ˈfænsi; NAmE / verb , noun , adjective
■ verb ( fan·cies , fancy·ing , fan·cied , fan·cied )
1.
( BrE , informal ) to want sth or want to do sth
SYN feel like :
[ vn ]
Fancy a drink?
She didn't fancy (= did not like) the idea of going home in the dark.
[ v -ing ]
Do you fancy going out this evening?
2.
[ vn ] ( BrE , informal ) to be sexually attracted to sb :
I think she fancies me.
3.
[ vn ] fancy yourself ( BrE , informal , disapproving ) to think that you are very popular, attractive or intelligent :
He started to chat to me and I could tell that he really fancied himself.
4.
[ vn - n ] fancy yourself (as) sth ( BrE ) to like the idea of being sth or to believe, often wrongly, that you are sth :
She fancies herself (as) a serious actress.
5.
Fancy! ( BrE , informal , becoming old-fashioned ) used to show that you are surprised or shocked by sth : [ v ]
Fancy! She's never been in a plane before.
[ v -ing ]
Fancy meeting you here!
[ vn ]
'She remembered my name after all those years.' ' Fancy that! '
6.
( BrE ) [ vn ] to think that sb will win or be successful at sth, especially in a race :
Which horse do you fancy in the next race?
He's hoping to get the job but I don't fancy his chances .
7.
[ v ( that )] ( literary ) to believe or imagine sth :
She fancied (that) she could hear footsteps.
■ noun ( pl. -ies )
1.
[ C , U ] something that you imagine; your imagination
SYN fantasy :
night-time fancies that disappear in the morning
a child's wild flights of fancy
2.
[ sing. ] a feeling that you would like to have or to do sth
SYN whim :
She said she wanted a dog but it was only a passing fancy.
3.
[ C , usually pl. ] ( BrE ) a small decorated cake
•
IDIOMS
- as / whenever, etc. the fancy takes you
- catch / take sb's fancy
- take a fancy to sb/sth
—more at tickle verb
■ adjective ( fan·cier , fan·ci·est )
1.
unusually complicated, often in an unnecessary way; intended to impress other people :
a kitchen full of fancy gadgets
They added a lot of fancy footwork to the dance.
He's always using fancy legal words.
OPP simple
2.
[ only before noun ] ( especially of small things ) with a lot of decorations or bright colours :
fancy goods (= things sold as gifts or for decoration)
—compare plain
3.
(sometimes disapproving ) expensive or connected with an expensive way of life :
fancy restaurants with fancy prices
Don't come back with any fancy ideas.
4.
( NAmE ) ( of food ) of high quality
••
WORD ORIGIN
late Middle English : contraction of fantasy .