fancy

1 verb fancied, fancying (T)

1 LIKE/WANT especially BrE to like or want something, or want to do something: Fancy a quick drink, Emma?

2 SEXUAL ATTRACTION BrE informal to feel sexually attracted to someone: All the girls fancied him like mad.

3 fancy yourself BrE informal to behave in a way that shows you think you are very attractive or clever: That bloke on the dance-floor really fancies himself.

4 THINK SOMETHING WILL BE SUCCESSFUL BrE to think someone or something is likely to be successful in something : fancy sb's chances: I don't fancy our chances of getting a ticket this late.

5 fancy!/fancy that! BrE spoken used to express your surprise or shock about something: “The Petersons are getting divorced.” “Fancy that!”

6 THINK/BELIEVE literary to think or believe something without being certain : fancy (that): She fancied she heard a noise downstairs.

2 noun

1 DESIRE FOR (singular) especially BrE

a) a feeling, especially one that is not particularly strong or urgent, that you would like something or someone : take a fancy to (=decide that you like someone or want to have something): Mr Hill took a real fancy to Clara. | a passing fancy (=one that does not last long): Wanting to go to Mexico was just a passing fancy.

b) take your fancy if something takes your fancy, you like it or want to have it: Did anything take your fancy?

2 tickle sb's fancy informal to seem attractive or amusing to someone: The idea of playing a joke on the Sergeant really tickled his fancy.

3 IDEA (C) old-fashioned an idea or opinion that is not based on fact: Oh, that was a fancy of his.

4 IMAGINATION (U) literary imagination or something that you imagine : flight of fancy (=when you let your imagination work in an uncontrolled way): Pat went off on one of her flights of fancy.

3 adjective

1 fancy hotels, restaurants, cars etc are expensive and fashionable: Harry took me to a fancy restaurant for our anniversary. | fancy prices (=very high and often unreasonable prices)

2 having a lot of decoration or bright colours, or made in a complicated way: fancy buttons | nothing fancy: I just want a basic sports coat - nothing fancy.

3 complicated and needing a lot of skill: I can't do all that fancy stuff on the computer.

4 (only before noun) AmE fancy food is high quality