fancy-work

A woman shows her fancy-work to a friend.

Definition

1. Noun:
   • Decorative needlework: "fancy-work" refers to ornamental sewing, embroidery, or other handiwork done for decorative purposes rather than practical use.

Usage Examples

• Noun:
  • She spent her evenings doing fancy-work, embroidering flowers onto a tablecloth. (Decorative needlework for embellishment.)
  • The shop sold supplies for fancy-work, including silk threads and coloured beads. (Materials for ornamental sewing.)
  • Her grandmother’s fancy-work included intricate lace doilies and embroidered pillowcases. (Handmade decorative items.)

Advanced Usage

• "fancy-work as a pastime": engaging in decorative needlework as a hobby.
  • Many Victorian women took up fancy-work to pass the time. (They did ornamental sewing for leisure.)
• "fancy-work in fashion": decorative stitching or embroidery used to adorn clothing.
  • The dress featured elaborate fancy-work along the collar and cuffs. (Ornamental stitching added to the garment.)

Variants and Related Words

• Fancy-worker (n): a person who does decorative needlework.
  • She was a skilled fancy-worker, known for her delicate lace patterns. (A person skilled in ornamental sewing.)
• Fancywork (n): an alternative spelling of "fancy-work", often used as a single word.
  • The museum displayed antique fancywork from the 19th century. (Decorative needlework items.)

Synonyms

• Embroidery: the art of decorating fabric with needle and thread.
• Needlework: sewing or stitching, especially as a craft.
• Ornamental sewing: sewing done for decoration rather than function.

Related Idioms

• "Fancy-work of the mind": a poetic or metaphorical phrase for elaborate mental creations or daydreams.
  • His stories were the fancy-work of an imaginative mind. (Elaborate, decorative thoughts or ideas.)