fox

The fox is an animal well known for its intelligence and for its abilities as a hunter. It resembles a small dog, except that it has a very large tail and a long, pointy nose. Words associated with this animal are sly, crafty, and clever. You can use the word "fox" to describe a person.

• He’s as clever as a fox.
• She’s a sly fox.
• Oliver is crazy like a fox.
• Giving Henry the job of guarding all that money is like letting the fox guard the hen house. (He can’t be trusted around money. This is a common expression.)

When the word "outfox" is used as a verb, it means that a person tries to outsmart or be smarter than someone.

• They tried to outfox Don on the business deal, but it didn’t work.
• Bernie was outfoxed by his ex-wife who received their house in the divorce settlement.
• You can’t outfox a fox.

The words "foxy" and "fox" became popular in the 1970s and 1980s when describing an attractive person.

• Wow, she’s a fox!
• Don’t you think she’s foxy?
• All the girls say that Vick is a fox.
• George Clooney is often referred to as a silver fox. (silver fox = an attractive older man with grey hair.)

There are a few cultural events that are worth mentioning because they include the word "fox."

  – Jimi Hendrix released "Foxy Lady" in 1967 and it became one of his biggest hits. This song still gets a lot of airplay.

  – More recently, the group Ylvis gained quick popularity with "What does the Fox say?"

  – Firefox is a popular browser used for navigating the internet.

  – In the United States, The Fox Network is one of the largest producers of television news and entertainment. It’s affiliated with Twentieth Century Fox (now Twenty-first Century Fox), which was once a famous movie studio. The Fox Network produces The Simpsons.

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This page was first published on February 6, 2014.