While sports fishing off the Florida coast, a tourist capsized his boat. He could swim, but his fear of alligators kept him clinging to the overturned craft.
Spotting and old beachcomber standing on the shore, the tourist shouted,
"Are there any gators around here?!"
"Naw," the man hollered back, "they ain"t been around for years!"
Feeling safe, the tourist started swimming leisurely toward the shore.
About halfway there he asked the guy,
"How"d you get rid of the gators?"
"We didn"t do nothin"," the beachcomber said. "The sharks got "em."
n. Minor weakness or idiosyncrasy. [french: related to *feeble]
FOLDER
n. Folding cover or holder for loose papers.
FOLIAR
adj. Of leaves. [as *foliate]
- feed n. Fertilizer supplied to the leaves of plants.
FOLKSY
adj. (-ier, -iest) 1 of or like folk art, culture, etc.
- friendly, unpretentious. folksiness n.
FOLLOW
v. - (often foll. By after) go or come after (a person or thing ahead).
- go along (a road etc.).
- come after in order or time (dessert followed; proceed as follows).
- take as a guide or leader.
- conform to.
- practise (a trade or profession).
- undertake (a course of study etc.).
- understand (a speaker, argument, etc.).
- take an interest in (current affairs etc.). 10 (foll. By with) provide with a sequel or successor. 11 happen after something else; ensue. 12 a be necessarily true as a consequence. B (foll. By from) result. follow on 1 continue.
- (of a cricket team) have to bat twice in succession. Follow out carry out (instructions etc.). Follow suit 1 play a card of the suit led.
- conform to another's actions. Follow through 1 continue to a conclusion.
- continue the movement of a stroke after hitting the ball. Follow up (foll. By with) 1 develop, supplement.
- investigate further. [old english]
FOMENT
v. Instigate or stir up (trouble, discontent, etc.). fomentation n. [latin foveo heat, cherish]
FONDLE
v. (-ling) caress. [related to *fond]
FONDUE
n. Dish of melted cheese. [french, = melted: related to *fuse1]
FOODIE
n. Colloq. Person who makes a cult of food; gourmet.
FOOTLE
v. (-ling) (usu. Foll. By about) colloq. Potter or fiddle about. [origin uncertain]
