Meaning & use
to fancy
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Meanings
verbtransitiveBritishinformal
To like or want something, especially food or drink.
Grammar: Takes an object: Do you fancy a cup of tea? Often used in questions and negatives.
Patterns
- fancy something
- fancy doing something
Do you fancy a cup of coffee?
I don't fancy going out tonight; I'm too tired.
She fancied a walk after lunch.
verbtransitiveBritishinformal
To feel attracted to someone in a romantic or sexual way.
Grammar: Takes an object: He fancies her. Common in British informal speech.
Patterns
- fancy someone
- fancy someone like crazy
He's fancied her since they were at school together.
I think she fancies you.
Do you fancy him?
verbtransitiveBritishinformal
To imagine or think that something is true, often when it is not.
Grammar: Often used in the phrase 'fancy yourself as' or 'fancy that'.
Patterns
- fancy yourself as something
- fancy that
He fancies himself as a great singer, but he's not.
Fancy that! I never expected to see you here.
She fancies that everyone is talking about her.
Word forms
| third person singular | fancies |
|---|---|
| past tense | fancied |
| past participle | fancied |
| -ing form | fancying |
Common combinations
- fancy a drink
- Do you fancy a drink after work?
- fancy going
- I fancy going to the beach this weekend.
- fancy someone
- He really fancies his new neighbor.
- fancy yourself as
- She fancies herself as a writer.
Synonyms and how they differ
- like
- Like is the general word for enjoying something; fancy is more British and informal, often used for a specific desire at a particular moment.
- want
- Want is neutral and direct; fancy is softer and more casual, common in British English.
- desire
- Desire is formal and strong; fancy is informal and mild.
Opposites
Word family
Commonly confused: to fancy or fantasy?
to fancy vs fantasy
Fantasy is a noun meaning a pleasant but unlikely situation; fancy as a verb means to like or want. They are related in meaning but different in use.
Practice
In British English, what does 'Do you fancy a cup of tea?' mean?
Choose one answer.
'Fancy' here means 'want' or 'would like'. It is a polite, informal way to offer something. It does not ask about possession ('have') or general preference ('like').
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “to fancy”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.