fast day
C2/RareFormal, Religious, Historical
Definition
Meaning
A day on which one abstains from food or certain foods, typically for religious reasons.
Any day designated for abstinence, often used in historical or specific religious contexts; more rarely, a day designated for rapid action or processing.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Primarily a compound noun. Its meaning is specific and not deducible from the sum of its parts ('fast' + 'day'). It is a fixed term, not a general description of a day that is quick.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Slightly more common in British English due to historical Anglican Church usage. In American English, it is almost exclusively used in specific religious (e.g., Catholic, Orthodox, Jewish) or historical contexts.
Connotations
UK: Often associated with the Church of England calendar or historical tradition. US: Strongly associated with specific faiths (e.g., Yom Kippur is a fast day in Judaism) or personal religious observance.
Frequency
Low frequency in both variants, but marginally higher in UK in formal/written historical contexts.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
observe [a fast day][fast day] + of [religious event] (e.g., fast day of Yom Kippur)[religious group]'s + fast dayVocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “A fast day is long but a feast day is short.”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Virtually never used.
Academic
Used in religious studies, history, and anthropology when discussing rituals.
Everyday
Rare; used only by individuals within specific religious communities.
Technical
Used in liturgical calendars and religious law.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- The congregation will fast on the designated fast day.
- Many worshippers fasted throughout the holy fast day.
American English
- She fasts on all the major fast days of her faith.
- They are fasting for the entire 24-hour fast day.
adverb
British English
- N/A – 'fast day' is not used adverbially.
American English
- N/A – 'fast day' is not used adverbially.
adjective
British English
- The fast-day regulations were strictly observed.
- A fast-day meal is typically very simple.
American English
- He prepared a fast-day soup with no meat or dairy.
- The fast-day schedule includes prayer services.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- On a fast day, some people do not eat until sunset.
- The religious calendar marks next Wednesday as a fast day.
- Observing a traditional fast day requires both spiritual preparation and practical planning.
- Historically, the monarch could proclaim a national fast day in response to a crisis, such as a plague or a poor harvest.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of 'fast' not as speed, but as 'hold fast' – to hold firmly to a rule of not eating. A 'fast day' is a day you hold fast to that rule.
Conceptual Metaphor
DISCIPLINE IS FIRMNESS (holding fast), PURIFICATION IS CLEANSING THROUGH DENIAL.
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Avoid direct translation as 'быстрый день'. The correct conceptual equivalent is 'день поста'.
Common Mistakes
- Using it to mean 'a day that passed quickly' (e.g., 'It was such a fast day!').
Practice
Quiz
In which context would the term 'fast day' be correctly used?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, 'fast' here is the verb meaning to abstain from food. It is unrelated to speed.
It is extremely rare. Its primary and almost exclusive use is within religious, historical, or anthropological contexts.
'Ramadan' is the name of a specific Islamic month of fasting. A 'fast day' is a more general term that can apply to any single day of fasting in any religion (e.g., Ash Wednesday, Yom Kippur, or a day within Ramadan).
Use it as a compound noun, typically with verbs like 'observe', 'keep', or 'break'. Example: 'Many Christians observe a fast day on Good Friday.'