1. Home
2. Idioms
3. take a fancy to

take a fancy to

---

---

take a fancy to someone or something

 and take a liking to someone or something; take a shine to someone or something

to develop a fondness or a preference for someone or something. John began to take a fancy to Sally late last August at the picnic. I've never taken a liking to cooked carrots. I think my teacher has taken a shine to me.

See also: fancy, take

take a fancy to somebody/something

to start liking someone or wanting something very much I think my sister has taken a fancy to you.

See also: fancy, take

take a fancy to

Also, take a liking or shine to . Be attracted to someone or something, as in They took a fancy to spicy foods after their Mexican vacation, or I'm hoping he'll take a liking to the water, now that we have a cottage on a lake, or We think Bill's taken a shine to Betsy. The first term was first recorded in 1541, the first variant in 1570, and the last, a colloquialism, in 1850.

See also: fancy, take