Topic: NATURE
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| Language: | Old English |
| Origin: | fæger 'beautiful' |
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fair1 S1 W2
1 a fair situation, system, way of treating people, or judgment seems reasonable, acceptable, and right [≠ unfair]: All we are asking for is a fair wage. £150 is a fair price. What do you think is the fairest solution? The report is a fair summary of the issues facing us.
reasonable and acceptable
All we are asking for is a fair wage.£150 is a fair price.What do you think is the fairest solution?The report is a fair summary of the issues facing us. it's only fair (that) (=used to say that it is right to do something) It's only fair that we tell him what's happening.
It's only fair that we tell him what's happening. it's fair to say (that) (=used when you think what you are saying is correct or reasonable) It's fair to say that by then he had lost the support of his staff.
It's fair to say that by then he had lost the support of his staff.2 treating everyone in a way that is right or equal [≠ unfair]: Life isn't always fair. My boss expects a lot - but he's very fair.
treating everyone equally
Life isn't always fair. it's only fair (that) You pay him $10 an hour - it's only fair that I should get the same.
You pay him $10 an hour - it's only fair that I should get the same.My boss expects a lot - but he's very fair.3 quite a large size, number etc : I've still got a fair amount of work left to do. We had travelled a fair way (=quite a long distance) by lunch time.
quite large
a fair size/amount/number/bit/distance etc
especially British EnglishI've still got a fair amount of work left to do.We had travelled a fair way (=quite a long distance) by lunch time. there's a fair chance (that)/of something (=it is quite likely that something will happen) There's a fair chance we'll be coming over to England this summer.
There's a fair chance we'll be coming over to England this summer.4 someone who is fair, or who has fair hair or skin, has hair or skin that is very light in colour [≠ dark]
hair/skin
5 a fair fight, game, or election is one that is played or done according to the rules [≠ unfair]
according to the rules
6 neither particularly good nor particularly bad [= average]: Her written work is excellent but her practical work is only fair.
level of ability
Her written work is excellent but her practical work is only fair.7 weather that is fair is pleasant and not windy, rainy etc [= fine]: It should be generally fair and warm for the next few days.
weather
DNIt should be generally fair and warm for the next few days.8 to have had more of something, especially something unpleasant, than seems reasonable : Poor old Alan! He's had more than his fair share of bad luck recently.
have had more than your fair share of something
Poor old Alan! He's had more than his fair share of bad luck recently.9 to give someone the opportunity to do something, especially so that they can show that they are able to do it
give somebody a fair crack of the whip
British English informal10 to treat someone, or to be treated, in a way that gives everyone the same chances as everyone else : Women don't always get a fair shake in business.
give somebody/get a fair shake
American English informalWomen don't always get a fair shake in business.11 using any method to get what you want, including dishonest or illegal methods
by fair means or foul
12 used to say that in some situations any method of getting what you want is acceptable
all's fair in love and war
13 pleasant and attractive : a fair maiden
pleasant/attractive
old use or literarya fair maiden14 spoken used to say that you agree with someone's suggestion or that something seems reasonable [= OK]: 'I think we should split the bill.' 'Fair enough.'
fair enough
especially British English'I think we should split the bill.' 'Fair enough.'15 spoken used when adding something after someone has been criticized, which helps to explain or excuse what they did [= in fairness]: She should have phoned to tell us what her plans were although, to be fair, she's been very busy.
to be fair
She should have phoned to tell us what her plans were although, to be fair, she's been very busy.16 spoken used to tell someone not to be unreasonable or criticize someone too much : Now Pat, be fair, the poor girl's trying her hardest!
be fair!
especially British EnglishNow Pat, be fair, the poor girl's trying her hardest!17 spoken used when you think it is fair that someone should do something, especially because of something that has happened earlier : Come on, fair's fair - I paid last time so it's your turn.
fair's fair
Come on, fair's fair - I paid last time so it's your turn.19 spoken used to say that an offer you are making to someone is the best and fairest offer they can possibly get : I'll give you £25 for it - you can't say fairer than that, can you?
you can't say fairer than that
British EnglishI'll give you £25 for it - you can't say fairer than that, can you?20 spoken used humorously to admit that you should not be doing something that someone has caught you doing
it's a fair cop
British English21 spoken if you do something with your own fair hands, you do it yourself without any help - used humorously
with your own fair hands
British English➔ have a fair idea of something
at ideaWORD FOCUS: weatherWORD FOCUS: weather good weather: sunny/fine used to describe weather or a day when there is a lot of sunshine
nice/lovely/glorious very sunny and good
bright if the weather is bright, the sun shines strongly
there isn't a cloud in the sky the sky is completely clear
dry if the weather is dry, it does not rain
fair sunny and not windy or rainy - used especially in weather forecasts
rain: wet/rainy/damp used to describe weather or a day when there is a lot of rain
unsettled if the weather is unsettled, it keeps changing and it often rains
drizzle light rain which consists of very small drops of water
shower a short period of rain
downpour a short period when it suddenly rains very heavily
it's pouring down British English/it's pouring rain American English it is raining very hard
it's drizzling it is raining a little, with very small drops of rain
snow: snowy used to describe weather or a day when there is a lot of snow
sleet a mixture of snow and rain
slush a mixture of partly melted snow and ice
hail/hailstones frozen drops of rain, that fall as drops of ice
blizzard a storm with a lot of snow and strong wind
frost white powder that covers the ground when it is cold
wind: windy used to describe a day or weather when there is a lot of wind
blustery very windy
breeze a gentle pleasant wind
hurricane (in the Atlantic Ocean) /typhoon (in the Pacific Ocean) a violent storm with extremely strong winds
cloudy: cloudy used to describe weather or a day when there are a lot of clouds in the sky
grey/dull cloudy and not bright
overcast if the sky is overcast, it is very cloudy and dark, and it is likely to rain
hazy not clear, especially because there is a slight mist caused by heat or smoke
hot: boiling/scorching/sizzling/blazing/burning/baking/broiling (hot) extremely hot
sweltering very hot and humid
warm a little hot, in a way that is pleasant
balmy pleasantly warm, with a gentle wind blowing
heatwave a period of unusually hot weather
cold: freezing (cold) extremely cold
arctic extremely cold, usually with a lot of ice and snow
wintry cold and snowy or rainy, like the weather in winter
crisp if the air is crisp, it feels cold but pleasantly fresh and clear
chilly a little too cold, in a way that makes you feel uncomfortable
cool a little cold, in a way that is pleasant
cold snap/cold spell a period of unusually cold weather
➔ See also weather
