fair

Universal Words adjective, adverb, noun adjective (fairer, fairest) acceptable / appropriate 1 ~ (to / on sb) acceptable and appropriate in a particular situation: a fair deal / wage / price / question * The punishment was very fair. * Was it really fair to him to ask him to do all the work? * It's not fair on the students to keep changing the timetable. * It's only fair to add that they were not told about the problem until the last minute. * It seems only fair that they should give us something in return. * I think it is fair to say that they are pleased with this latest offer. * To be fair, she behaved better than we expected. * (especially BrE) 'You should really have asked me first.' 'Right, okay, fair comment.' * In the end, a draw was a fair result. * I give you fair warning, I'm not always this generous. OPPUNFAIR treating people equally 2 ~ (to sb) treating everyone equally and according to the rules or law: She has always been scrupulously fair. * demands for a fairer distribution of wealth * We have to be fair to both players. * to receive a fair trial * free and fair elections * It's not fair! He always gets more than me. * The new tax is fairer than the old system. * They are fair and decent employers. * his vision of a fairer, kinder society OPPUNFAIR quite large 3 [onlybeforenoun] quite large in number, size or amount: A fair number of people came along. * a fair-sized town * We've still got a fair bit / amount (= quite a lot) to do. * My birthday's still a fair way off (= it's still a long time until my birthday). quite good 4 (especially BrE) quite good: There's a fair chance that we might win this time. * It's a fair bet that they won't turn up. * I have a fair idea of what happened. * His knowledge of French is only fair. hair / skin 5 pale in colour: a fair complexion * She has long fair hair. * All her children are fair (= they all have fair hair). weather 6 bright and not raining: a fair and breezy day * The day was set fair with the spring sun shining down. 7 (literary) (of winds) not too strong and blowing in the right direction: They set sail with the first fair wind. beautiful 8 (literary or old use) beautiful: a fair maiden IDIOMS all's fair in love and war (saying) in some situations any type of behaviour is acceptable to get what you want be fair! (spoken) used to tell sb to be reasonable in their judgement of sb/sth: Be fair! She didn't know you were coming. by fair means or foul using dishonest methods if honest ones do not work: She's determined to win, by fair means or foul. a fair crack of the whip (BrE, informal) a reasonable opportunity to show that you can do sth: I felt we weren't given a fair crack of the whip. fair enough (spoken, especially BrE) used to say that an idea or suggestion seems reasonable: 'We'll meet at 8.' 'Fair enough.' * If you don't want to come, fair enough, but let Bill know. (give sb) a fair hearing (to allow sb) the opportunity to give their point of view about sth before deciding if they have done sth wrong, often in a court of law: I'll see that you get a fair hearing. fair's fair (spoken) (BrE also fair dos / do's) used, especially as an exclamation, to say that you think that an action, decision, etc. is acceptable and appropriate because it means that everyone will be treated fairly: Fair's fair-you can't expect them to cancel everything just because you can't make it. * Come one, fair dos-you've had your chance, now let me try. (give sb / get) a fair shake (AmE, informal) (to give sb/get) fair treatment that gives you the same chance as sb else: Are minority students getting a fair shake at college? (more than) your fair share of sth (more than) an amount of sth that is considered to be reasonable or acceptable: He has more than his fair share of problems. * I've had my fair share of success in the past. it's a fair cop (BrE, spoken, humorous) used by sb who is caught doing sth wrong, to say that they admit that they are wrong adverb according to the rules; in a way that is considered to be acceptable and appropriate: Come on, you two, fight fair! * They'll respect you as long as you play fair (= behave honestly). IDIOMS fair and square (also fairly and squarely) 1 honestly and according to the rules: We won the election fair and square. 2 (BrE) in a direct way that is easy to understand: I told him fair and square to pack his bags. 3 (BrE) exactly in the place you were aiming for: I hit the target fair and square. set fair (to do sth / for sth) (BrE) having the necessary qualities or conditions to succeed: She seems set fair to win the championship. * Conditions were set fair for stable economic development. moreatSAYv. noun entertainment 1 (BrE also funfair) (AmE also carnival) a type of entertainment in a field or park at which people can ride on large machines and play games to win prizes: Let's take the kids to the fair. * all the fun of the fair 2 (AmE) a type of entertainment in a field or park at which farm animals and products are shown and take part in competitions: the county / state fair 3 (BrE) = FeTE business 4 an event at which people, businesses, etc. show and sell their goods: a world trade fair * a craft / a book / an antique fair animal market 5 (BrE) (in the past) a market at which animals were sold: a horse fair jobs 6 job / careers ~ an event at which people who are looking for jobs can get information about companies who might employ them