The general went out to find that none of his GIs were there. One finally ran up, panting heavily.
"Sorry, sir! I can explain, you see I had a date and it ran a little late. I ran to the bus but missed it, I hailed a cab but it broke down, found a farm, bought a horse but it dropped dead, ran 10 miles, and now I"m here."
The general was very skeptical about this explanation but at least he was here so he let the G.I. go.
Moments later, eight more GIs came up to the general panting, he asked them why they were late.
"Sorry, sir! I had a date and it ran a little late, I ran to the bus but missed it, I hailed a cab but it broke down, found a farm, bought a horse but it dropped dead, ran 10 miles, and now I"m here."
The general eyed them, feeling very skeptical but since he let the first guy go, he let them go, too.
A ninth GI jogged up to the general, panting heavily. "Sorry, sir! I had a date and it ran a little late, I ran to the bus but missed it, I hailed a cab but..."
"Let me guess," the general interrupted, "it broke down."
"No," said the G.I., "there were so many dead horses in the road, it took forever to get around them."
- (usu. In pl.) Restless movements or mood. fidgety adj. [obsolete or dial. Fidge twitch]
FIERCE
adj. (fiercer, fiercest) 1 violently aggressive or frightening.
- eager, intense.
- unpleasantly strong or intense (fierce heat). fiercely adv. Fierceness n. [latin ferus savage]
FIESTA
n. Holiday, festivity, or religious festival. [spanish]
FIGURE
—n. - external form or bodily shape.
- a silhouette, human form (figure on the lawn). B person of a specified kind or appearance (public figure; cut a poor figure).
- a human form in drawing, sculpture, etc. B image or likeness.
- two- or three-dimensional space enclosed by lines or surface(s), e.g. A triangle or sphere.
- a numerical symbol or number, esp. 0–9. B amount; estimated value (cannot put a figure on it). C (in pl.) Arithmetical calculations.
- diagram or illustration.
- decorative pattern.
- movement or sequence in a set dance etc.
- mus. Succession of notes from which longer passages are developed. 10 (in full figure of speech) metaphor, hyperbole, etc. —v. (-ring) 1 appear or be mentioned, esp. Prominently.
- represent pictorially.
- imagine; picture mentally.
- embellish with a pattern etc. (figured satin).
- calculate; do arithmetic.
- symbolize.
- esp. Us a understand, consider. B colloq. Make sense; be likely (that figures). figure on us count on, expect. Figure out work out by arithmetic or logic. [latin figura: related to *feign]
FILIAL
adj. Of or due from a son or daughter. filially adv. [latin filius, -a son, daughter]
FILING
cabinet n. Cabinet with drawers for storing files.
- n. (usu. In pl.) Particle rubbed off by a file.
FILLER
n. - material used to fill a cavity or increase bulk.
- small item filling space in a newspaper etc.
FILLET
—n. - a boneless piece of meat or fish. B (in full fillet steak) undercut of a sirloin.
- ribbon etc. Binding the hair.
- thin narrow strip or ridge.
- narrow flat band between mouldings. —v. (-t-) 1 remove bones from (fish or meat) or divide into fillets.
- bind or provide with fillet(s). [latin filum thread]
FILLIP
—n. - stimulus, incentive.
- flick with a finger or thumb. —v. (-p-) 1 stimulate.
- flick. [imitative]
FILTER
tip n. - filter on a cigarette removing some impurities.
- cigarette with this. filter-tipped adj.
- —n. - porous device for removing impurities etc. From a liquid or gas passed through it.
- = *filter tip.
- screen or attachment for absorbing or modifying light, x-rays, etc.
- device for suppressing unwanted electrical or sound waves.
- arrangement for filtering traffic. —v. - (cause to) pass through a filter.
- (foll. By through, into, etc.) Make way gradually.
- (foll. By out) (cause to) leak.
- allow (traffic) or (of traffic) be allowed to pass to the left or right at a junction. [germanic: related to *felt1]
