frayverb
uk/freɪ/us/freɪ/fray verb (CLOTH)
[ I or T ] to become or to cause the threads in cloth or rope to become slightly separated, forming loose threads at the edge or end:
Denim frays so easily.
I frayed the edges of my jeans since that was the fashion in those days.
Thesaurus: synonyms and related words
Tearing and breaking into pieces
- apart
- asunder
- bobble
- break (sth) off
- breakage
- catch
- fall apart
- flake
- fragment
- fragmented
- frayed
- in ribbons idiom
- knacker
- pull sth apart
- rent
- rip
- shear
- split
- tear sth up
- torn
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fray verb (BECOME ANNOYED)
[ I ] If your temper frays or your nerves fray, you gradually become upset or annoyed:
Tempers frayed as thousands of drivers began the Christmas holiday with long waits in traffic jams.
Thesaurus: synonyms and related words
Becoming angry and expressing anger
- (almost) burst a blood vessel idiom
- -tempered
- ape
- ballistic
- bananas
- bay for blood idiom
- get bent out of shape idiom
- get your knickers in a twist idiom
- go ape idiom
- go nuts idiom
- go off the deep end idiom
- launch
- lose
- postal
- sharp
- storm
- tempers get frayed idiom
- turn in your grave idiom
- umbrage
- wobbly
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Idiom(s)
fray around/at the edges
fraynoun [ S ]
uk/freɪ/us/freɪ/the fray
an energetic and often not well-organized effort, activity, fight, or disagreement:
With a third country about to enter (= take part in) the fray, the fighting looks set to continue.
A good holiday should leave you feeling refreshed and ready for the fray (= ready to work) again.
Thesaurus: synonyms and related words
Fighting
- a fight to the finish idiom
- action stations
- bloodless
- bloodletting
- brawl
- counterinsurgency
- disturbance
- dust-up
- engagement
- fighting
- fistfight
- fisticuffs
- he who fights and runs away, lives to fight another day idiom
- hotspot
- last
- mano a mano
- pick
- shoot
- slug
- slug it out idiom
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You can also find related words, phrases, and synonyms in the topics:
Arguments & disagreements