Fancy vs. Prefer — What's the Difference?
Difference Between Fancy and Prefer
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Compare with Definitions
Fancy
Highly decorated
A fancy hat.
Prefer
Like (one thing or person) better than another or others; tend to choose
Val would presumably prefer that you didn't get arrested
I prefer Venice to Rome
I would prefer to discuss the matter in private
Fancy
Complex or intricate
The fancy footwork of a figure skater.
Prefer
Submit (a charge or a piece of information) for consideration
The police will prefer charges
Fancy
Elegantly fashionable or sophisticated
A fancy restaurant.
A fancy way of asking for a loan.
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Prefer
Promote or advance (someone) to a prestigious position
He was eventually preferred to the bishopric of Durham
Fancy
Of superior grade; fine
Fancy preserves.
Prefer
To choose or be in the habit of choosing as more desirable or as having more value
Prefers coffee to tea.
Fancy
Excessive or exorbitant
Paid a fancy price for the car.
Prefer
To give priority or precedence to (a creditor).
Fancy
Bred for unusual qualities or special points.
Prefer
To present (a charge) against a defendant before a court
Prefer an indictment.
Fancy
The mental faculty through which whims, visions, and fantasies are summoned up; imagination, especially of a whimsical or fantastic nature.
Prefer
To present (a case) to a court as ready for consideration
Prefer the case for trial.
Fancy
Something imagined or invented by the mind
"As the fancies that kept crowding in upon him only made him more excited, he got out of bed and tried to think." (Sherwood Anderson).
Prefer
(Archaic) To recommend for advancement or appointment; promote.
Fancy
A capricious liking or inclination
I have a fancy for a glass of wine.
Prefer
(transitive) To be in the habit of choosing something rather than something else; to favor; to like better.
I prefer tea to coffee.
I'd prefer it if you didn't do it.
Fancy
A romantic liking or interest
She's taken a fancy to you.
Prefer
To advance, promote (someone or something).
Fancy
The enthusiasts or fans of a sport or pursuit considered as a group.
Prefer
(transitive) To present or submit (something) to an authority (now usually in "to prefer charges").
Fancy
The sport or pursuit, such as boxing, engaging the interest of such a group.
Prefer
To put forward for acceptance; to introduce, recommend (to).
Fancy
To have a liking or enthusiasm for
Fancies sports cars.
Prefer
To carry or bring (something) forward, or before one; hence, to bring for consideration, acceptance, judgment, etc.; to offer; to present; to proffer; to address; - said especially of a request, prayer, petition, claim, charge, etc.
He spake, and to her hand preferred the bowl.
Presently prefer his suit to Cæsar.
Three tongues prefer strange orisons on high.
Fancy
To have a desire or inclination for
Would you fancy a cup of coffee?.
Prefer
To go before, or be before, in estimation; to outrank; to surpass.
Fancy
To take a romantic interest in (someone)
Do you think he fancies her?.
Prefer
To cause to go before; hence, to advance before others, as to an office or dignity; to raise; to exalt; to promote; as, to prefer an officer to the rank of general.
I would prefer him to a better place.
Fancy
To imagine or suppose
"I fancy she is an exceedingly proud woman" (Jane Austen).
Prefer
To set above or before something else in estimation, favor, or liking; to regard or honor before another; to hold in greater favor; to choose rather; - often followed by to, before, or above.
If I prefer not Jerusalem above my chief joy.
Preferred an infamous peace before a most just war.
Fancy
The imagination.
Prefer
Like better; value more highly;
Some people prefer camping to staying in hotels
We prefer sleeping outside
Fancy
An image or representation of anything formed in the mind.
Prefer
Select as an alternative; choose instead; prefer as an alternative;
I always choose the fish over the meat courses in this restaurant
She opted for the job on the East coast
Fancy
An opinion or notion formed without much reflection.
Prefer
Promote over another;
He favors his second daughter
Fancy
A whim.
I had a fancy to learn to play the flute.
Prefer
Give preference to one creditor over another
Fancy
Love or amorous attachment.
He took a fancy to her.
Fancy
The object of inclination or liking.
Fancy
Any sport or hobby pursued by a group.
Trainspotting is the fancy of a special lot.
The cat fancy
Fancy
The enthusiasts of such a pursuit.
He fell out of favor with the boxing fancy after the incident.
Fancy
A diamond with a distinctive colour.
Fancy
That which pleases or entertains the taste or caprice without much use or value.
Fancy
A bite-sized sponge cake, with a layer of cream, covered in icing.
A French fancy; a fondant fancy; cream fancies
Fancy
(obsolete) A sort of love song or light impromptu ballad.
Fancy
In the game of jacks, a style of play involving additional actions (contrasted with plainsies).
Fancy
Decorative, or featuring decorations, especially intricate or diverse ones.
This is a fancy shawl.
Fancy
Of a superior grade.
This box contains bottles of the fancy grade of jelly.
Fancy
Executed with skill.
He initiated the game-winning play with a fancy deked saucer pass to the winger.
Fancy
(colloquial) Unnecessarily complicated.
I'm not keen on him and his fancy ideas.
Fancy
(obsolete) Extravagant; above real value.
Fancy
(nonstandard) In a fancy manner; fancily.
Fancy
(formal) To appreciate without jealousy or greed.
I fancy your new car, but I like my old one just fine.
Fancy
(British) would like
I fancy a burger tonight for dinner.
Do you fancy going to town this weekend?
Fancy
To be sexually attracted to.
I fancy that girl over there.
Fancy
To imagine, suppose.
[dated] I fancy you'll want something to drink after your long journey.
I fancy this is an error.
Fancy meeting you here!
Fancy that! I saw Elizabeth Bennett and Mr. Darcy kissing in the garden.
You won't get the gig just because you fancy yourself a musician.
Fancy
To form a conception of; to portray in the mind.
Fancy
To have a fancy for; to like; to be pleased with, particularly on account of external appearance or manners.
Fancy
(transitive) To breed (animals) as a hobby.
Fancy
The faculty by which the mind forms an image or a representation of anything perceived before; the power of combining and modifying such objects into new pictures or images; the power of readily and happily creating and recalling such objects for the purpose of amusement, wit, or embellishment; imagination.
In the soulAre many lesser faculties, that serveReason as chief. Among these fancy nextHer office holds.
Fancy
An image or representation of anything formed in the mind; conception; thought; idea; conceit.
How now, my lord ! why do you keep alone,Of sorriest fancies your companoins making ?
Fancy
An opinion or notion formed without much reflection; caprice; whim; impression.
I have always had a fancy that learning might be made a play and recreation to children.
Fancy
Inclination; liking, formed by caprice rather than reason; as, to strike one's fancy; hence, the object of inclination or liking.
To fit your fancies to your father's will.
Fancy
That which pleases or entertains the taste or caprice without much use or value.
London pride is a pretty fancy for borders.
Fancy
A sort of love song or light impromptu ballad.
At a great book sale in London, which had congregated all the fancy.
Fancy
To figure to one's self; to believe or imagine something without proof.
If our search has reached no farther than simile and metaphor, we rather fancy than know.
Fancy
To love.
Fancy
To form a conception of; to portray in the mind; to imagine.
He whom I fancy, but can ne'er express.
Fancy
To have a fancy for; to like; to be pleased with, particularly on account of external appearance or manners.
Fancy
To believe without sufficient evidence; to imagine (something which is unreal).
He fancied he was welcome, because those arounde him were his kinsmen.
Fancy
Adapted to please the fancy or taste, especially when of high quality or unusually appealing; ornamental; as, fancy goods; fancy clothes.
Fancy
Extravagant; above real value.
This anxiety never degenerated into a monomania, like that which led his [Frederick the Great's] father to pay fancy prices for giants.
Fancy
Something many people believe that is false;
They have the illusion that I am very wealthy
Fancy
Fancy was held by Coleridge to be more casual and superficial than imagination
Fancy
A predisposition to like something;
He had a fondness for whiskey
Fancy
Imagine; conceive of; see in one's mind;
I can't see him on horseback!
I can see what will happen
I can see a risk in this strategy
Fancy
Have a fancy or particular liking or desire for;
She fancied a necklace that she had seen in the jeweler's window
Fancy
Not plain; decorative or ornamented;
Fancy handwriting
Fancy clothes
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