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Fancy vs Tinsel - What's the difference?

fancy | tinsel | Related terms |

Fancy is a related term of tinsel.


As nouns the difference between fancy and tinsel

is that fancy is the imagination while tinsel is a shining material used for ornamental purposes; especially, a very thin, gauzelike cloth with much gold or silver woven into it; also, very thin metal overlaid with a thin coating of gold or silver, brass foil, or the like.

As adjectives the difference between fancy and tinsel

is that fancy is decorative while tinsel is glittering, later especially superficially so; gaudy, showy.

As verbs the difference between fancy and tinsel

is that fancy is (formal) to appreciate without jealousy or greed while tinsel is to adorn with tinsel; to deck out with cheap but showy ornaments; to make gaudy.

fancy

English

Alternative forms

* (all obsolete)

Noun

(fancies)
  • The imagination.
  • * Milton
    • In the soul / Are many lesser faculties, that serve / Reason as chief. Among these fancy next / Her office holds.
  • An image or representation of anything formed in the mind; conception; thought; idea.
  • * Shakespeare
    • How now, my lord! why do you keep alone, / Of sorriest fancies your companions making?
  • An opinion or notion formed without much reflection; an impression.
  • * John Locke
    • I have always had a fancy that learning might be made a play and recreation to children.
  • A whim.
    • I had a fancy to learn to play the flute.
  • Love or amorous attachment.
    • He took a fancy to her.
  • The object of inclination or liking.
  • * Shakespeare
    • to fit your fancies to your father's will
  • Any sport or hobby pursued by a group.
    • Trainspotting is the fancy of a special lot.
    the cat fancy
  • The enthusiasts of such a pursuit.
    • He fell out of favor with the boxing fancy after the incident.
  • * De Quincey
    • a great book sale in London, which had congregated all the fancy
  • A diamond with a distinctive colour.
  • That which pleases or entertains the taste or caprice without much use or value.
  • * Mortimer
    • London pride is a pretty fancy for borders.
  • (obsolete) A sort of love song or light impromptu ballad.
    • (Shakespeare)
  • In the game of jacks, a style of play involving additional actions (contrasted with plainsies).
  • * 1970 , Marta Weigle, Follow my fancy: the book of jacks and jack games (page 22)
    • When you have mastered plainsies, the regular jack game, and have learned all the rules, you will be ready to use this part of the book. A fancy is a variation of plainsies which usually requires more skill than plainsies does.
  • * 2002 , Elizabeth Dana Jaffe, ?Sherry L. Field, ?Linda D. Labbo, Jacks (page 26)
    • When you get good at jacks, try adding a fancy . A fancy is an extra round at the end of a game. It makes the game a little harder. Jack Be Nimble, Around the World, or Black Widow are some fancies.

    Derived terms

    * flight of fancy * tickle someone's fancy

    Adjective

    (er)
  • Decorative.
    • This is a fancy shawl.
  • Of a superior grade.
    • This box contains bottles of the fancy grade of jelly.
  • Executed with skill.
    • He initiated the game winning play with a fancy , deked saucer pass to the winger.
  • (colloquial) Unnecessarily complicated.
    • I'm not keen on him and his fancy ideas.
  • (obsolete) Extravagant; above real value.
  • * Macaulay
    • This anxiety never degenerated into a monomania, like that which led his [Frederick the Great's] father to pay fancy prices for giants.

    Synonyms

    * (decorative) decorative, ornate * (unnecessarily complicated) highfalutin

    Antonyms

    * (decorative) plain, simple * (unnecessarily complicated) simple

    Verb

    (en-verb)
  • (formal) To appreciate without jealousy or greed.
    • I fancy your new car, but I like my old one just fine.
  • (British) would like
    • I fancy a burger tonight for dinner
    Do you fancy going to town this weekend?
  • (British, informal) To be sexually attracted to.
    • I fancy that girl over there.
  • (dated) To imagine, suppose.
    • I fancy you'll want something to drink after your long journey.
    Fancy meeting you here!
    Fancy that! I saw Elizabeth Bennett and Mr. Darcy kissing in the garden.
  • * John Locke
    • If our search has reached no farther than simile and metaphor, we rather fancy than know.
  • * Thackeray
    • He fancied he was welcome, because those around him were his kinsmen.
  • * 1895 , H. G. Wells, The Time Machine Chapter X
    • I fancied at first the stuff was paraffin wax, and smashed the jar accordingly. But the odor of camphor was unmistakable.
  • To form a conception of; to portray in the mind; to imagine.
  • * Dryden
    • he whom I fancy , but can ne'er express
  • To have a fancy for; to like; to be pleased with, particularly on account of external appearance or manners.
  • * Shakespeare
    • We fancy not the cardinal.

    Synonyms

    * (be sexually attracted to) like (US) * (would like to) feel like

    Derived terms

    * fancy that

    See also

    * fantasy * fancy man * fancy oneself * fancypants * fancy woman

    External links

    *

    tinsel

    English

    Noun

    (-)
  • A shining material used for ornamental purposes; especially, a very thin, gauzelike cloth with much gold or silver woven into it; also, very thin metal overlaid with a thin coating of gold or silver, brass foil, or the like.
  • * :
    • Who can discern the tinsel from the gold?
  • * {{quote-book, year=1963, author=(Margery Allingham)
    • , title=(The China Governess) , chapter=Foreword citation , passage=He stood transfixed before the unaccustomed view of London at night time, a vast panorama which reminded him […] of some wood engravings far off and magical, in a printshop in his childhood. They dated from the previous century and were coarsely printed on tinted paper, with tinsel outlining the design.}}
  • Very thin strips of a glittering, metallic material used as a decoration, and traditionally, draped at Christmas time over streamers, paper chains and the branches of Christmas trees.
  • Anything shining and gaudy; something superficially shining and showy, or having a false luster, and more gay than valuable.
  • * :
    • O happy peasant! O unhappy bard! His the mere tinsel , hers the rich reward.

    Adjective

    (en adjective)
  • Glittering, later especially superficially so; gaudy, showy.
  • * 1590 , (Edmund Spenser), The Faerie Queene , III.1:
    • Her garments all were wrought of beaten gold, / And all her steed with tinsell trappings shone [...].

    Verb

  • To adorn with tinsel; to deck out with cheap but showy ornaments; to make gaudy.
  • * :
    • She, tinseled o'er in robes of varying hues.
  • (figuratively) To give a false sparkle to (something).

    • Derived terms

    * tinseled, tinselled * tinselly * Tinseltown

    See also

    * trimmings * trim up

    References

    *

    Anagrams

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