- fair
- fair1 W2S1 [feə US fer] adj▬▬▬▬▬▬▬1¦(reasonable and acceptable)¦2¦(treating everyone equally)¦3¦(quite large)¦4¦(hair/skin)¦5¦(according to the rules)¦6¦(level of ability)¦7¦(weather)¦8 have had more than your fair share of something9 give somebody a fair crack of the whip10 give somebody/get a fair shake11 by fair means or foul12 all's fair in love and war13¦(pleasant/attractive)¦14 fair enough15 to be fair16 be fair!17 fair's fair18 fair comment19 you can't say fairer than that20 it's a fair cop21 with your own fair hands▬▬▬▬▬▬▬[: Old English; Origin: fAger 'beautiful']1.) ¦(REASONABLE AND ACCEPTABLE)¦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.fair trial/hearing▪ the right to a fair trial▪ What do you think is the fairest solution?▪ The report is a fair summary of the issues facing us.it is fair to do sth▪ It seems fair to give them a second chance.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 fair to say (that)(=used when you think what you are saying is correct or reasonable)▪ I think it's fair to say that by then he had lost the support of most of his staff.it's not fair on sb▪ I can't carry on working such long hours. It's not fair on my family.2.) ¦(TREATING EVERYONE EQUALLY)¦treating everyone in a way that is right or equal≠ ↑unfair▪ Why does Eric get to go and I don't? It's not fair !▪ Life isn't always fair.fair to▪ The old law wasn't fair to women.it's only fair (that)▪ 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 LARGE)¦a fair size/amount/number/bit/distance etcespecially BrE 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.there's a fair chance (that)/of sth(=it is quite likely that something will happen)▪ There's a fair chance we'll be coming over to England this summer.4.) ¦(HAIR/SKIN)¦someone who is fair, or who has fair hair or skin, has hair or skin that is very light in colour≠ ↑dark5.) ¦(ACCORDING TO THE RULES)¦a fair fight, game, or election is one that is played or done according to the rules≠ ↑unfair6.) ¦(LEVEL OF ABILITY)¦neither particularly good nor particularly bad= ↑average▪ Her written work is excellent but her practical work is only fair.7.) ¦(WEATHER)¦weather that is fair is pleasant and not windy, rainy etc= ↑fine▪ It should be generally fair and warm for the next few days.8.) have had more than your fair share of sthto 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.9.) give sb a fair crack of the whipBrE informal to give someone the opportunity to do something, especially so that they can show that they are able to do it10.) give sb/get a fair shakeAmE informal 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.11.) by fair means or foulusing any method to get what you want, including dishonest or illegal methods12.) all's fair in love and warused to say that in some situations any method of getting what you want is acceptable13.) ¦(PLEASANT/ATTRACTIVE)¦old use or literary pleasant and attractive▪ a fair maiden14.) spoken fair enoughespecially BrE 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.'15.) spoken to be fairused 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.16.) spoken be fair!especially BrE used to tell someone not to be unreasonable or criticize someone too much▪ Now Pat, be fair, the poor girl's trying her hardest!17.) spoken fair's fairused 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.18.) spoken fair commentBrE used to say that a remark or criticism seems reasonable19.) spoken you can't say fairer than thatBrE 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?20.) spoken it's a fair copBrE used humorously to admit that you should not be doing something that someone has caught you doing21.) spoken with your own fair handsBrE if you do something with your own fair hands, you do it yourself without any help - used humorouslyfair 2fair2 n[Date: 1200-1300; : Old French; Origin: feire, from Latin feriae 'holidays']1.) also funfair BrEa form of outdoor entertainment, at which there are large machines to ride on and games in which you can win prizesAmerican Equivalent: carnival2.) AmE an outdoor event, at which there are large machines to ride on, games to play, and sometimes farm animals being judged and soldstate/county fair3.) book/antiques/craft/trade etc fairan event at which people or businesses show and sell their products▪ the Frankfurt Book Fair▪ an antiques fair▪ a trade fair (=where companies show their newest products)▪ a craft fair (=where people sell handmade products such as jewellery, paintings etc)4.) job/careers fairan event where people go to get information about different kinds of jobs5.) BrE an outdoor event with games and things to eat and drink, usually organized to get money for a school, club etc= ↑fête6.) BrE old-fashioned a market where animals and farm products are sold▪ a horse fairfair 3fair3 W3S2 adv1.) win (sth)/beat sb fair and squareto win a competition, sports match etc honestly and without cheating2.) play fairto do something in a fair and honest way▪ In international trade, very few countries play fair.
Dictionary of contemporary English. 2013.
