fleece
B2Neutral (noun); Informal (verb, meaning 'to swindle')
Definition
Meaning
The woolly coat of a sheep or similar animal; a fabric or garment made from such wool.
To deceive someone and take their money, especially by overcharging or cheating; a soft, warm fabric or lining, often synthetic.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
The noun is concrete (material/garment). The verb is figurative, derived from the idea of shearing a sheep of its fleece, and is often used in financial contexts.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No major differences in meaning. The verb sense 'to swindle' is equally understood in both dialects, but the noun is slightly more frequent in UK English due to historical wool production.
Connotations
Noun: neutral/positive (warmth, comfort). Verb: strongly negative (fraud, exploitation).
Frequency
The noun is more common than the verb. The verb is more common in informal/news contexts about scams.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
[Verb] to fleece someone (of something)[Noun] fleece of (a sheep)[Noun] made from fleeceVocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “[to be] fleeced (informal: cheated out of money)”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Informal: 'The contractor fleeced the company with inflated invoices.'
Academic
Rare; found in agricultural/ textile studies: 'The quality of the fleece was measured.'
Everyday
Common: 'I bought a new fleece for hiking.' / 'They really fleeced us at that tourist trap.'
Technical
Textile industry: 'Polyester fleece is a popular technical fabric.'
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- The dodgy mechanic tried to fleece me for a simple repair.
- Tourists often get fleeced by the currency exchange booths.
American English
- The scam artist fleeced dozens of elderly people out of their savings.
- He felt fleeced after paying $10 for a basic hot dog at the stadium.
adverb
British English
- N/A
American English
- N/A
adjective
British English
- She wore a fleece gilet over her jumper.
- The fleece material is very lightweight.
American English
- He put on a fleece pullover before going out.
- Fleece pajamas are popular in the winter.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- My new coat has a soft fleece inside.
- Sheep have a thick fleece.
- I always pack a fleece when I go camping because nights are cold.
- The farmer sheared the fleece from the sheep in spring.
- The company was accused of fleecing its customers with hidden fees.
- This technical fleece wicks moisture away from the body.
- The elaborate Ponzi scheme managed to fleece investors of millions before it collapsed.
- The genetic study aimed to improve the yield and quality of the merino fleece.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a FLEECE as the coat of a sheep that brings it peace and warmth. To FLEECE someone is to take their 'coat' (money) from them.
Conceptual Metaphor
PEOPLE ARE SHEEP (to be fleeced); MONEY/ VALUABLES ARE A PROTECTIVE COVERING.
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Do not confuse with 'fl'и'с' (a type of trousers/ jeans).
- The verb 'to fleece' is not 'убегать' (to run away). It is closer to 'ободрать как липку' or 'обмануть'.
Common Mistakes
- Using 'fleece' as a verb to mean 'to run away' (confusion with 'flee').
- Misspelling as 'fleace' or 'fleeze'.
Practice
Quiz
In which context is 'fleece' used literally?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No. While the core meaning is sheep's wool, it commonly refers to a type of soft fabric (often synthetic) and, as a verb, means to cheat someone out of money.
'Flee' means to run away from danger. 'Fleece' as a noun means wool or a soft fabric, and as a verb means to swindle. They are different words.
Yes, it can function as a noun modifier (e.g., 'a fleece jacket'), which is similar to an adjective. It describes the material something is made from.
It is informal. In formal writing about fraud, words like 'defraud', 'swindle', or 'embezzle' are more appropriate.
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