fairy
A very small magic person in stories, often with wings, who can use special powers.
A small imaginary creature in stories, usually shaped like a tiny human with wings, that has magical powers.
A very rude and hurtful word for a gay man. It should not be used.
A highly offensive and insulting word for a gay man, suggesting he is weak or not traditionally masculine.
A joke word for an imaginary person who comes when you are not looking and does work or brings money or other things.
A humorous way to refer to an imaginary person or force that secretly does jobs or brings something, used in phrases like "the cleaning fairy" or "the money fairy".
Describes something that is like a fairy because it is very small, light, pretty, or seems magical.
Describes something that looks or feels related to fairies, especially by being small, delicate, pretty, or giving a magical atmosphere.
- Base: fairy
- Plural: fairies
away with the fairies
1distracted and not realistic
Not paying attention to real life, as if you are dreaming or in another world; often said in a joking way.
- Sorry, I was away with the fairies—could you repeat that?
- He spends so much time daydreaming that his boss thinks he’s away with the fairies.
- She seems a bit away with the fairies this morning after working all night.
fairy dust
1fine magical powder from fairies
Very small pieces of magic powder in stories that fairies use to make people fly or do other magic; sometimes used to mean a special extra quality that makes something very good.
- In the film, a little fairy dust lets the children fly.
- The marketing team added a bit of fairy dust to the campaign to make it more exciting.
- The stage glitter looked like fairy dust in the spotlight.
fairy godmother
1person who gives generous help
Someone who helps you a lot in a surprising and very kind way, like the magic helper in the Cinderella story.
- Her aunt was like a fairy godmother, paying for her college fees.
- A mysterious fairy godmother donated enough money to save the theater.
- He thanked the mentor who had been his fairy godmother in the industry.
fairy lights
1small decorative string lights
Many small lights on a thin wire or string, used to decorate a room, tree, or outdoor space.
- They put fairy lights around the window for the holidays.
- The garden was lit with soft fairy lights hanging from the trees.
- She likes to keep fairy lights over her bed all year round.
fairy story
1untrue or invented story
A story that is not true; often used to say that someone is lying or telling a nice story that you cannot believe.
- The minister’s explanation was dismissed as a fairy story by the press.
- Don’t tell me fairy stories about why you were late; I saw you at the café.
- He comforted the children with a fairy story about the lost dog finding a new home.
like a fairy tale
1perfect and almost unreal
Used when something is very beautiful or happy and seems too good to be real.
- The city at night looked like a fairy tale.
- Her life now seems like a fairy tale compared to her difficult childhood.
- For him, getting that job was like a fairy tale come true.
tooth fairy
1imaginary being for lost teeth
An imaginary person in Western stories who takes a child’s tooth from under the pillow and leaves money instead.
- The boy put his tooth under the pillow for the tooth fairy.
- Do you still believe in the tooth fairy?
- Parents often pretend to be the tooth fairy for their children.
fairy tale
1traditional magical story for children
A simple story, often for children, with magic, fairies, or other unreal things; also used for a very happy, almost unreal situation.
- She read her daughter a fairy tale before bed.
- Cinderella is my favorite fairy tale.
- Their wedding was like something out of a fairy tale.
- Their wedding was like a fairy tale, with a castle and fireworks.
- The book is a modern fairy tale about a girl who can talk to animals.