Dictionary

away with the fairies en · ADJ

Pronunciation

• (Australia) audio
• /əˈweɪ wɪð ðə ˈfɛəɹɪːz/

Etymology

Based around the common belief in Celtic and British Isles folklore that fairies were prone to either kidnapping people or robbing them of their wits.

Meanings

1. (idiomatic, not-comparable) Not all there; slightly crazy.
   • Now, I know the story is away with the fairies, but he produces a body and I take him down to the station to talk to the detectives. 2000, Peter Watt, Cry of the Curlew:
   • Hobday was wild, mad, and totally away with the fairies. 2005, Ben Wright, Michael Patrick Shiels, Good Bounces and Bad Lies:
   • Don't believe a word he says, pet. He's away with the fairies. 2013, Santa Montefiore, Secrets of the Lighthouse, →ISBN, page 34:
   • That was so ridiculous I laughed. A smile would crack Alison's poetic persona so she looked serious. She put her thin hand to her cheek like a lady writer in a photograph with eyes that could penetrate surfaces. She was certainly away with the fairies. 2001, Finola Moorhead, Darkness More Visible:
2. (idiomatic, not-comparable) Synonym of lost in thought; distracted or daydreaming.
   • Shaunna was suddenly in front of him, her voice bringing him back from wherever he'd been. “Hm?” “Are you all right, hun?” “Yeah. Why?” “You were away with the fairies there. Are you making tea?” 2014, Debbie McGowan, Crying in the Rain, →ISBN, page 55:
   • Mohandas Lakesh Singh's thoughts were far away when Donald Bry placed the report on his desk. Lakesh responded with a jump of sudden surprise. “I'm sorry,” Bry apologized. “I didn't realize you were—” “Think nothing of it, Donald,” Lakesh assured with a dismissive wave of his hand. “I was just...away with the fairies.” 2015, James Axler, Terminal White, →ISBN, page 198:
   • Goodness, you were away with the fairies then! Did you hear me? I asked if you wanted another cup of tea? 2012, Hannah Richell, Secrets of the Tides, →ISBN, page 106:
3. (idiomatic, not-comparable) Fast asleep.

Forms

Synonyms

away with the pixies · lost in thought

Translations (28)

pl w roztargniony sposób (lost in thought) · eo for kun la feinoj (lost in thought) · ja 白日夢にふけって (lost in thought) · ga le na mná sí (lost in thought) · it nella luna (lost in thought) · pt em a lua (lost in thought) · fi muissa maailmoissa (lost in thought) · nl met de feeën (lost in thought) · mi pao (lost in thought) · de gedankenverloren (lost in thought) · es en la luna (lost in thought) · fr tête en l'air (lost in thought) · ru вита́ть в облака́х (lost in thought) · el αιθεροβατώ (lost in thought) · br pell gant an torroù (lost in thought) · fr étourdi (lost in thought) · hu szórakozott (lost in thought) · hu el van varázsolva (lost in thought) · it distratto (lost in thought) · pl zamyślony (lost in thought) · da åndsfraværende (lost in thought) · cs snění za bílého dne (lost in thought) · cs pryč s vílami (lost in thought) · fr distrait (lost in thought) · gl andar ós biosbardos (lost in thought) · fr dans la lune (lost in thought) · cy yn y lleuad (lost in thought) · mi kei Mahurangi (lost in thought)