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feel for

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feel for

A better sense of (a situation or how to do something); a greater knowledge or experience in (something). Once I got a feel for the company's daily operations, I felt more comfortable taking on the management role.

See also: feel

feel for someone

to feel the emotional pain that someone else is feeling; to empathize or sympathize with someone. I really feel for you. I'm so sorry it turned out this way. Fred felt for Dave, but there was nothing he could do for him.

See also: feel

*feel for something

a natural or learned ability to do something. (*Typically: get ~; have ~.) I will do better with this work as soon as I get a feel for it. He doesn't have a feel for this kind of careful work.

See also: feel

feel for somebody

to experience sympathy for someone I know she's unhappy, and I feel for her.

See also: feel

feel for

1. Grope, reach for with one's hands, as in It was pitch dark, and I felt for the doorknob. [Early 1700s]

2. feel for someone. Sympathize with or feel sorry for someone, as in Tom was so upset that I felt for him. This usage was put as feel with by Shakespeare: "It resounds as if it felt with Scotland" ( Macbeth, 4:3). Both senses of feel for are present in the somewhat sarcastic I feel for you but I can't quite reach you, meaning "Too bad, but I don't really feel sorry for you."

See also: feel

feel for

v.

To sympathize or empathize with someone: I feel for the employees that were laid off.

See also: feel