2 VERB If something such as an engine fizzes , it makes a sound like a long 's'. □ [V ] When I started the engine it sparked, fizzed and went dead.
3 N‑UNCOUNT If you say that someone puts fizz into something, you mean that they make it more interesting or exciting. □ A Brazilian public relations firm has brought some fizz into his campaign.
fiz|zle /f I z ə l/ (fizzles , fizzling , fizzled ) VERB If something fizzles , it ends in a weak or disappointing way after starting off strongly. □ [V + into/to ] Our relationship fizzled into nothing. [Also V ] ● PHRASAL VERB Fizzle out means the same as fizzle . □ [V P ] The railway strike fizzled out on its second day as drivers returned to work.
fizzy /f I zi/ (fizzier , fizziest ) ADJ [usu ADJ n] Fizzy drinks are drinks that contain small bubbles of carbon dioxide. They make a sound like a long 's' when you pour them. [BRIT ] □ …fizzy water. □ …a can of fizzy drink. in AM, use carbonated
fjord /fjɔː r d, fiː ɔː r d/ (fjords ) also fiord N‑COUNT [oft in names] A fjord is a strip of sea that comes into the land between high cliffs, especially in Norway.
flab /flæ b/ N‑UNCOUNT If you say that someone has flab , you mean they have loose flesh on their body because they are rather fat, especially when you are being critical of them. [DISAPPROVAL ] □ Don had a hefty roll of flab overhanging his waistband.
flab|ber|gast|ed /flæ bə r gɑːst I d, -gæst-/ ADJ [usu v-link ADJ , ADJ to-inf] If you say that you are flabbergasted , you are emphasizing that you are extremely surprised. [EMPHASIS ] □ Everybody was flabbergasted when I announced I was going to emigrate to Australia.
flab|by /flæ bi/ (flabbier , flabbiest )
1 ADJ Flabby people are rather fat, with loose flesh over their bodies. [DISAPPROVAL ] □ This exercise is brilliant for getting rid of flabby tums.
2 ADJ If you describe something as flabby , you are criticizing it for being disorganized or wasteful. [DISAPPROVAL ] □ You hear talk about American business being flabby.
flac|cid /flæ s I d, flæ ks I d/ ADJ You use flaccid to describe a part of someone's body when it is unpleasantly soft and not hard or firm. □ I picked up her wrist. It was limp and flaccid.
flag ◆◇◇ /flæ g/ (flags , flagging , flagged )
1 N‑COUNT A flag is a piece of cloth which can be attached to a pole and which is used as a sign, signal, or symbol of something, especially of a particular country. □ The Marines raised the American flag. □ They had raised the white flag in surrender.
2 N‑COUNT [usu adj N ] Journalists sometimes refer to the flag of a particular country or organization as a way of referring to the country or organization itself and its values or power. □ The two brothers are riding under the British flag. [Also + of ]
3 VERB If you flag or if your spirits flag , you begin to lose enthusiasm or energy. □ [V ] His enthusiasm was in no way flagging. □ [V ] By 4,000m he was beginning to flag.
4 → see also flagged
5 PHRASE If you fly the flag , you show that you are proud of your country, or that you support a particular cause, especially when you are in a foreign country or when few other people do.
▸ flag down PHRASAL VERB If you flag down a vehicle, especially a taxi, you wave at it as a signal for the driver to stop. □ [V P n] They flagged down a passing family who stopped to help them. □ [V n P ] Marlette was already out of the door, flagging down a taxi.
▸ flag up PHRASAL VERB If you flag up something such as a problem, you bring it to someone's attention. □ [V P n] Staff can use the noticeboard to flag up any concerns. □ [V n P ] I think there are more important issues and I just wanted to flag that up. COLLOCATIONS flag NOUN 1
adjective + flag : chequered, red, white; national
verb + flag : fly, unfurl, wave; hoist, raise
fla g day (flag days ) N‑COUNT In Britain, a flag day is a day on which people collect money for a charity from people in the street. People are given a small sticker to wear to show that they have given money.
Fla g Day N‑UNCOUNT In the United States, Flag Day is the 14th of June, the anniversary of the day in 1777 when the Stars and Stripes became the official U.S. flag.
flag|el|la|tion /flæ dʒəle I ʃ ə n/ N‑UNCOUNT Flagellation is the act of beating yourself or someone else, usually as a religious punishment. [FORMAL ]
flagged /flæ gd/ ADJ A flagged path or area of ground is covered with large, flat, square pieces of stone.
flag|on /flæ gən/ (flagons )
1 N‑COUNT A flagon is a wide bottle in which liquids such as wine are sold.
2 N‑COUNT A flagon is a jug with a narrow neck in which wine or another drink is served.
flag|pole /flæ gpoʊl/ (flagpoles ) N‑COUNT A flagpole is a tall pole on which a flag can be displayed. □ The Namibian flag was hoisted up the flagpole.
fla|grant /fle I grənt/ ADJ [ADJ n] You can use flagrant to describe an action, situation, or someone's behaviour that you find extremely bad or shocking in a very obvious way. [DISAPPROVAL ] □ The judge called the decision 'a flagrant violation of international law'. ● fla|grant|ly ADV [usu ADV with v, oft ADV adj] □ It is a situation where basic human rights are being flagrantly abused.
flag|ship /flæ gʃ I p/ (flagships )
1 N‑COUNT A flagship is the most important ship in a fleet of ships, especially the one on which the commander of the fleet is sailing.