Two and a half figs.
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noun
- the hollow, pear-shaped false fruit (syconium) of the fig tree, with sweet, pulpy flesh containing numerous tiny, seedlike true fruits (achenes)
- any of a genus (Ficus) of fig-bearing trees of the mulberry family, esp. any of the many cultivated varieties of a tree (F. carica) bearing edible figs
- a trifling amount; little bit: not worth a fig
- a gesture of contempt or disdain made as by placing the thumb between the first two fingers or under the upper teeth
Origin: Middle English fige ; from Old French ; from Vulgar Latin an unverified form fica, for Classical Latin ficus, fig tree, fig
transitive verb figged, figging
to dress showily: with out or up
Origin: altered ; from obsolete feague, to whip, polish; confused with the contr. for figure, probably from the use of this contracted form inch(es) reference to plates inch(es) books of fashions
noun
- dress; appearance
- shape; condition
- figurative
- figuratively
- figure(s)
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
noun
- a. Any of several trees or shrubs of the genus Ficus, especially F. carica, native to the Mediterranean region and widely cultivated for its edible multiple fruit.b. The sweet, hollow, pear-shaped, multiple fruit of this plant, having numerous tiny seedlike fruits.
- a. Any of several plants bearing similar fruit.b. The fruit of such a plant.
- A trivial or contemptible amount: not worth a fig; didn't care a fig.
Origin: Middle English, from Old French figue, from Old Provençal figa, from Vulgar Latin *fīca, from Latin fīcus.
noun
- Dress; array: in full fig.
- Physical condition; shape: in fine fig.
Origin: Perhaps from fig, to trot out a horse in lively condition, dress up, variant of feague, to make a horse lively, probably from Dutch vegen, to brush, from Middle Dutch vēghen.
abbreviation
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 4th edition Copyright © 2010 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.- figurative
- figuratively
- figure
fig - Phrases/Idioms
see under not give a damn.
in full fig
Informal completely dressed or outfitted, esp. in a showy manner
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.