fog
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Related to fogs: fog lights
able to fog a mirror
Alive, perhaps barely. (If one holds up a mirror to one's nose or mouth, the breath will cause fog to appear.) I spent the whole day moving furniture, so I'm barely able to fog a mirror now. He'll date any woman who's able to fog a mirror. I can think of two reasons why she'd want to marry that old man—he's extremely rich, and he's hardly able to fog a mirror!
fog in
1. To cover someone or something with fog. In this usage, a noun or pronoun can be used between "fog" and "in." As we climbed higher in elevation, the trees were increasingly fogged in. Look, the entire valley is fogged in now! I can't make out any of those houses anymore. Driver visibility will definitely be an issue if the city continues to fog in like this.
2. To be forced to stay in a particular place because the outside environment is too foggy. We'll have to fly out tomorrow because today's flight is fogged in. I know, what a surprise—we're in San Francisco and now we're fogged in. Because our departing flight was fogged in, we ended up having to spend the night at the airport.
See also: fog
fog over
To become obscured by fog. My glasses fogged over while I was in the shower—I can't see a thing! Driver visibility will definitely be an issue if the city continues to fog over like this. I've got to get some of this steam out of here—the mirror fogged over while you were showering.
fog up
1. To become covered in a layer of fog. My glasses fogged up as soon as I stepped out of the ice rink into the August humidity. Driver visibility will definitely be an issue if the city continues to fog up like this. I've got to get some of this steam out of here—the mirror fogged up while you were showering.
2. To cause something to become covered in a layer of fog. In this usage, a noun or pronoun can be used between "fog" and "up." I breathed on the mirror to fog it up. Rising humidity fogged up the city overnight. Yikes, that band's dry ice fogged up the whole arena
3. To become emotional and nearly cry over something. Yes, I fogged up during the graduation ceremony—"Pomp and Circumstance" gets me every time. I knew you would fog up—you always cry at weddings. Even I fogged up at the funeral, and I barely knew the guy.
in a fog
Not fully aware or alert; having one's attention clouded with something. I always feel like I'm in a fog when I take that medication. It's like it's hard for me to think. I was in a fog leaving the doctor's office, unable to come to grips with the diagnosis she had just given me. A flurry of punches left the boxer's opponent in a fog.
See also: fog
the fog of war
Confusion, uncertainty, or skewed judgment caused by the violence and chaos of warfare, especially in relation to one's own capability compared to that of one's enemy. The use of satellite technology has helped us cut through the fog of war, reducing our uncertainty regarding enemy troop movements in relation to our own. Our assessment of the enemy's military forces was obscured due to the fog of war, leading us to be vastly outnumbered during battle.
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms. © 2024 Farlex, Inc, all rights reserved.
able to fog a mirror
Fig. Inf. alive, even if just barely. (Usually jocular. Alludes to the use of a small mirror placed under the nose to tell if a person is breathing or not. (Able to can be replaced with can.) Look, I don't need an athlete to do this job! Anybody able to fog a mirror will do fine!
fog over
[for something made of glass] to become covered over with water vapor. The windshield fogged over because I forgot to turn on the defroster. The mirror fogged over, and I couldn't see to shave.
fog something up
to make something made of glass become covered with a film of water vapor. The moisture fogged the windshield up, and we had to stop to clean it off. The moisture fogged up the glass.
fog up
[for something made of glass] to become partially or completely obscured by a film of water vapor. The glass fogged up, and we couldn't see out.
in a fog
and in a hazeFig. dazed; not paying attention to what is going on around one; not alert. Jane always seems to be in a fog. When I get up, I'm in a fog for an hour. After surgery, I was in a haze until the anesthetic wore off.
See also: fog
McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs. © 2002 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.
in a fog
Also, in a haze. Preoccupied, not paying attention; also, at a loss, confused. For example, After the accident he went about in a fog, even though he had not been injured, or Millie always seems to be in a haze; she never knows what's going on. These expressions allude to fog or haze obscuring one's view; the fog usage dates from about 1600, haze from about 1800.
See also: fog
The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer. Copyright © 2003, 1997 by The Christine Ammer 1992 Trust. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
in a fog
in a state of perplexity; unable to think clearly or understand something.See also: fog
Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary © Farlex 2017
in a ˈfog
(informal) uncertain and confused: Thank you for your explanation, but I’m afraid I’m still in a fog over what happened.See also: fog
Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary © Farlex 2017
fog in
v.
1. To surround something with fog: The descending mists fogged in the little village. The storm clouds fogged us in on the mountaintop. Because the airport was fogged in, all of the flights were canceled.
2. To cause something to be unable to move safely due to fog. Used chiefly in the passive: The airplane was fogged in and could not land.
See also: fog
fog up
v.
1. To become covered with condensation: The bathroom mirror fogged up after I took a shower.
2. To cause something to become covered with condensation: The steam from the kettle fogged up the kitchen windows. Don't breathe on the lens—you'll fog it up.
3. To become teary-eyed out of a strong sense of emotion: I fogged up when my parents' photo was unveiled.
The American Heritage® Dictionary of Phrasal Verbs. Copyright © 2005 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.