What is Fancy in English? The correct usage of Fancy in English!

What is Fancy in English?

Example

Part of speech

Meaning

Verb

to like the idea of having or doing something

• She fancies a trip to the beach this weekend. 
• Do you fancy going out for dinner tonight? 

to think or have a certain feeling or impression (that)

• I fancied I saw a ghost in the old abandoned house. 
• She fancied she could hear someone whispering in the hallway. 

to have a strong sexual interest in (a person)

• He secretly fancies his colleague and often tries to impress her. 
• Anna fancies him, but she's not sure if he feels the same way. 

Noun

a sudden (often unexpected) liking or desire

• She has a fancy for collecting seashells whenever she visits the beach. 
• His sudden fancy for painting surprised everyone because he had never shown an interest in art before. 

the power of the mind to imagine things

• The play was a delightful blend of reality and fancy.
• Children have an incredible fancy that allows them to create imaginary worlds and characters. 

something imagined

• The unicorn in the story was a beautiful fancy created by the author's imagination. 
• The artist's sculptures were abstract fancies inspired by shapes found in nature. 

Adjective

decorated; not plain

• She wore a fancy necklace to the party. 
• The living room was filled with fancy furniture. furniture. 

Words/ phrases used with Fancy in English

Meaning

Example

fancy-free

able to do anything you like because you do not have a family or other responsibilities

• He enjoys his fancy-free lifestyle, with no commitments holding him back. 

fancy man

a man that a married woman has a sexual relationship with, who is not her husband

• She discreetly met up with her fancy man at a cozy cafe in town. 

fancy woman

a woman that a married man has a sexual relationship with, who is not his wife

• He showered his fancy woman with expensive gifts and lavish vacations. 

fancy dress

clothes that you wear, especially to parties, that make you look like a famous person, a character from a story etc

• I thought Jenny was in fancy dress. 

fancy goods

small attractive objects that are sold as gifts or souvenirs (=things you buy in a place to remind you of it after you have left it)

• The tourist shop was filled with a variety of fancy goods, including keychains, magnets, and miniature landmarks. 

fancy somebody rotten

to be extremely attracted to someone in a sexual way – used humorously

• Ever since they met at the party, he's been fancying her rotten. 

take/ tickle somebody’s fancy

to seem attractive or amusing to someone

• The thought of going on an adventure trip to the Amazon tickled his fancy.

flight of fancy

thoughts, ideas etc that are full of imagination but that are not practical or sensible

• His plan to build a house entirely out of recycled materials was just a flight of fancy. 

fancy someone's chances

to think that someone is likely to succeed

• After seeing her performance in the auditions, I really fancy her chances of landing the lead role. 

strike your fancy

appeal to someone.

• The colorful artwork at the gallery really struck my fancy. 

Structure

Example

S + fancy + V-ing + something

• She fancies taking a road trip across the country during her summer break. 
• He fancies trying out a new recipe for dinner tonight. 

Fancy + V-ing! 

• Fancy meeting you at this event! 
• Fancy seeing you at the concert last night! 

S + fancy + O + to + V-inf + something

• I fancy him to become a successful entrepreneur in the future. 
• She fancies herself to be a great singer, even though she has never had any formal training. 

S + fancy + somebody/ something

• He fancies a cup of hot chocolate on this chilly evening.
• He fancies his co-worker and has been trying to find ways to spend more time with her. 

S + fancy + (that) + clause

• She fancied that she was living in a fairytale. 
• They fancied that they could see a rainbow in this distance. 

S + fancy oneself + (as) + Noun

• He fancies himself (as) a brilliant writer. 
• He fancies himself (as) a master chef. 

S + fancy oneself + Adverb/Preposition

• Jenny fancied herself in love with me, the silly girl. 
• They fancied themselves on top of the world, basking in their achievements. 

Synonyms of Fancy in English

Meaning

Example

imagine

/ɪˈmædʒɪn/

to like the idea of having or doing something

• Close your eyes and imagine yourself on a beautiful beach. 
• He couldn't imagine a life without his best friend. 

dream of

/ˌdriːm av/

• She dreams of becoming a famous singer one day. 
• I often dream of traveling around the world and experiencing different cultures. 

picture

/ˈpɪktʃə(r)/

• Can you picture yourself living in a cozy cottage in the countryside? 
• Jenny pictures a peaceful garden with blooming flowers in her house. 

conceive of

/kənˈsiːv av/

• It's hard to conceive of a world without technology in today's digital age. 
• He conceived of a groundbreaking invention that would revolutionize the industry. 

think

/θɪŋk/

to think or have a certain feeling or impression (that)

• I think it's going to rain later today. 
• She thinks that learning a new language can be challenging but rewarding. 

believe

/bɪˈliːv/

• She believes in herself and her ability to achieve her goals. 
• He believes that hard work and determination lead to success. 

suppose

/səˈpəʊz/

• I suppose we could meet for dinner at 7 PM if that works for you. 

conjecture

/kənˈdʒektʃə(r)/

• Scientists are still conjecturing about the cause of the mysterious phenomenon. 

surmise

/səˈmaɪz/

• I surmise that she must be feeling happy. 
• They surmised that the project would be completed ahead of schedule. 

like

/laɪk/

to have a strong sexual interest in (a person)

• She likes the taste of chocolate ice cream. 
• They like to go hiking on weekends. 

enjoy

/ɪnˈdʒɔɪ/

• I enjoy playing the guitar as a way to relax. 
• She enjoys spending time with her family on the weekends. 

long for

/lɒŋ fə(r)/

• He longs for the day when he could travel the world. 
• She longs for the warmth of summer during the cold winter months. 

be fond of

/bi fɒnd av/

• I am fond of watching romantic comedies. 
• They are fond of trying new and exotic foods. 

Fancy

Enjoy

Similarity

Difference

Example

• He fancies a luxurious vacation in Dubai. 
• They fancy a romantic dinner by candlelight and flowers. 

• Jenny enjoys reading books in her spare time. 
• They enjoy hiking in the mountains. 

1. reading

2. taking

3. to win

4. to become

5. meeting

6. watching

7. to become

8. to excel

9. learning

10. to achieve