I. WANTING, LIKING, OR THINKING
(fancies, fancying, fancied)
Frequency: The word is one of the 3000 most common words in English.
1.
If you fancy something, you want to have it or to do it. (mainly BRIT INFORMAL)
What do you fancy doing, anyway?...
I just fancied a drink.
VERB: V -ing, V n
2.
A fancy is a liking or desire for someone or something, especially one that does not last long.
She did not suspect that his interest was just a passing fancy.
= whim
N-COUNT: usu with supp
3.
If you fancy someone, you feel attracted to them, especially in a sexual way. (INFORMAL)
I think he thinks I fancy him or something.
VERB: V n
4.
If you fancy yourself as a particular kind of person or fancy yourself doing a particular thing, you like the idea of being that kind of person or doing that thing.
So you fancy yourself as the boss someday?...
I didn't fancy myself wearing a kilt.
VERB: V pron-refl as n, V pron-refl -ing
5.
If you say that someone fancies themselves as a particular kind of person, you mean that they think, often wrongly, that they have the good qualities which that kind of person has.
She fancies herself a bohemian...
...a flighty young woman who really fancies herself.
VERB: V pron-refl n, V pron-refl
6.
If you say that you fancy a particular competitor or team in a competition, you think they will win. (BRIT)
You have to fancy Bath because they are the most consistent team in England...
I fancy England to win through.
VERB: V n, V n to-inf
7.
You say 'fancy' or 'fancy that' when you want to express surprise or disapproval.
It was very tasteless. Fancy talking like that so soon after his death...
'Fancy that!' smiled Conti.
EXCLAM [feelings]
8.
If you take a fancy to someone or something, you start liking them, usually for no understandable reason.
Sylvia took quite a fancy to him...
PHRASE: V inflects, PHR n/-ing
9.
If something takes your fancy or tickles your fancy, you like it a lot when you see it or think of it.
She makes most of her own clothes, copying any fashion which takes her fancy.
PHRASE: V inflects
II. ELABORATE OR EXPENSIVE
(fancier, fanciest)
1.
If you describe something as fancy, you mean that it is special, unusual, or elaborate, for example because it has a lot of decoration.
It was packaged in a fancy plastic case with attractive graphics.
...fancy jewellery.
ADJ: usu ADJ n
2.
If you describe something as fancy, you mean that it is very expensive or of very high quality, and you often dislike it because of this. (INFORMAL)
They sent me to a fancy private school.
ADJ: usu ADJ n