[Elamur Dictionary](https://md.dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/) · [this page in HTML](https://dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/english/fancy/)

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# fancy

adjective (fancy, fancier, fanciest); verb (fancy, fancies, fancied, fancying); noun (a fancy, fancies)

«fancy» in the English dictionary: everyday — its meanings, how the lessons use it, and examples, each with its tree on Mova.

## Everyday

1. Fancy means decorated, special or expensive, not plain. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/F/fancy/#m1)
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 →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/F/fancy/#m2)
3. To fancy someone is to have a crush on them. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/F/fancy/#m3)
4. A fancy is a liking or an idea in your head; «take a fancy to» means start to like. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/F/fancy/#m4)
5. Fancy is an exclamation of surprise meaning "just imagine!" [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/F/fancy/#m5)

### 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 →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/F/fancy/#x1)
- Do you fancy a game of football? [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/F/fancy/#x2)
- We went to a fancy-dress party as pirates. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/F/fancy/#x3)
- The cake had fancy icing on top. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/F/fancy/#x4)
- Nothing fancy, just a sandwich, please. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/F/fancy/#x5)
- The cat took a fancy to my new jumper. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/F/fancy/#x6)
- Fancy meeting you here! [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/F/fancy/#x7)
- Fancy my being afraid of a lion! [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/F/fancy/#x8)

### 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.

## On Mova

- [Trees and pragmatics of «fancy» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/F/fancy/): every meaning and example parsed by Mova, with its dependency tree and frames.
- [«fancy» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/fancy.html) on Mova free.