What's the difference between
and
Enter two words to compare and contrast their definitions, origins, and synonyms to better understand how those words are related.

Fancy vs Unfancy - What's the difference?

fancy | unfancy |

As adjectives the difference between fancy and unfancy

is that fancy is decorative while unfancy is not fancy; simple.

As a noun fancy

is the imagination.

As a verb fancy

is (formal) to appreciate without jealousy or greed.

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

    *

    unfancy

    English

    Adjective

    (en adjective)
  • Not fancy; simple
  • *{{quote-news, 2009, January 23, Holland Cotter, Where Lines Become a Kind of Language, New York Times citation
    • , passage=Physically, the piece is slight: an odd-shaped, four-inch-across scrap of blue paper marked with unfancy parallel ink strokes and white highlights. }}