What it means
A proper everyday British verb that does two neat little jobs. If you fancy something, you want it or you're up for it. Fancy a pint? Fancy going out? If you fancy someone, that's romantic or sexual interest creeping in. Soft, common, and dead handy when you want to sound casual instead of intense.
Usage examples
"Do you fancy a walk? In this weather? Nah mate, I don’t fancy catching my death. Stick the kettle on, I’ll have a brew and a biccy."
"Fancy a curry tonight, mate? There's a new place opened up by the station that's meant to be cracking."
"My flatmate fancies the bloke from accounts but she's far too shy to make the first move."
"Do you fancy coming pub after work, or are you heading straight home?"
"He definitely fancies you, mate. Man goes all floppy and useless every time you walk in."
Where it comes from
Fancy comes from fantasy, which in earlier English could mean imagination, whim, or a passing liking. By the 17th century, fancy had settled into verb use for taking a liking to something or someone. That sense stayed especially lively in British and Irish English, where it still gets loads of daily mileage.
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