fop|pish /fɒ p I ʃ/ ADJ If you describe a man as foppish , you disapprove of the fact that he dresses in beautiful, expensive clothes and is very proud of his appearance. [OLD-FASHIONED , DISAPPROVAL ]
for ◆◆◆ /fə r , STRONG fɔː r / In addition to the uses shown below, for is used after some verbs, nouns, and adjectives in order to introduce extra information, and in phrasal verbs such as 'account for' and 'make up for'. It is also used with some verbs that have two objects in order to introduce the second object. 1 PREP If something is for someone, they are intended to have it or benefit from it. □ Isn't that enough for you? □ I have some free advice for you. □ …a table for two. □ Your mother is only trying to make things easier for you. □ What have you got for me this morning, Patrick? □ He wanted all the running of the business for himself.
2 PREP If you work or do a job for someone, you are employed by them. □ I knew he worked for a security firm. □ Have you had any experience writing for radio? □ …a buyer for one of the largest chain stores in the south.
3 PREP If you speak or act for a particular group or organization, you represent them. □ She appears nightly on the television news, speaking for the State Department. □ …the spokesman for the Democrats.
4 PREP If someone does something for you, they do it so that you do not have to do it. □ If your pharmacy doesn't stock the product you want, have them order it for you. □ He picked the bracelet up for me.
5 PREP If you feel a particular emotion for someone, you feel it on their behalf. □ This is the best thing you've ever done–I am so happy for you! □ He felt a great sadness for this little girl.
6 PREP If you feel a particular emotion for someone or something, they are the object of that emotion, and you feel it when you think about them. □ John, I'm sorry for Steve, but I think you've made the right decisions. □ Mack felt a pitiless contempt for her.
7 PREP You use for after words such as 'time', 'space', 'money', or 'energy' when you say how much there is or whether there is enough of it in order to be able to do or use a particular thing. □ Many new trains have space for wheelchair users. □ It would take three to six hours for a round trip. □ Chris couldn't even raise the energy for a smile.
8 PREP If something is for sale, hire, or use, it is available to be sold, hired, or used. □ …fishmongers displaying freshwater fish for sale. □ …a room for rent. □ …a comfortable chair, suitable for use in the living room.
9 PREP You use for when you state or explain the purpose of an object, action, or activity. □ Use olive oil for salad dressings. □ The knife for cutting sausage was sitting in the sink. □ …economic aid for the future reconstruction of the country.
10 PREP You use for after nouns expressing reason or cause. □ He's soon to make a speech in parliament explaining his reasons for going. □ The county hospital could find no physical cause for Sumner's problems. □ He has now been formally given the grounds for his arrest.
11 PREP For is used in conditional sentences, in expressions such as ' if not for ' and ' were it not for ', to introduce the only thing which prevents the main part of the sentence from being true. □ If not for John, Brian wouldn't have learned the truth. □ The earth would be a frozen ball if it were not for the radiant heat of the sun. □ She might have forgotten her completely had it not been for recurrent nightmares.
12 PREP You use for to say how long something lasts or continues. □ The toaster remained on for more than an hour. □ For a few minutes she sat on her bed watching the clock. □ They talked for a bit.
13 PREP You use for to say how far something extends. □ We drove on for a few miles. □ Great clouds of black smoke were rising for several hundred feet or so.
14 PREP If something is bought, sold, or done for a particular amount of money, that amount of money is its price. □ We got the bus back to Tange for 30 cents. □ The Martins sold their house for about 1.4 million pounds. □ The doctor was prepared to do the operation for a large sum.
15 PREP If something is planned for a particular time, it is planned to happen then. □ His next trip to Lanzarote is planned for April. □ Marks & Spencer will be unveiling its latest fashions for autumn and winter.
16 PREP If you do something for a particular occasion, you do it on that occasion or to celebrate that occasion. □ He asked his daughter what she would like for her birthday. □ I'll be home for Christmas.
17 PREP If you leave for a particular place or if you take a bus, train, plane, or boat for a place, you are going there. □ They would be leaving for Rio early the next morning.
18 PREP You use for when you make a statement about something in order to say how it affects or relates to someone, or what their attitude to it is. □ What matters for most scientists is money and facilities. □ For her, books were as necessary to life as bread. □ It would be excellent experience for him to travel a little.
19 PREP After some adjective, noun, and verb phrases, you use for to introduce the subject of the action indicated by the following infinitive verb. □ It might be possible for a single woman to be accepted as a foster parent. □ I had made arrangements for my affairs to be dealt with by one of my children. □ He held out his glass for an old waiter to refill.
20 PREP You use for when you say that an aspect of something or someone is surprising in relation to other aspects of them. □ He was tall for an eight-year-old. □ He had too much money for a young man.