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fog

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able to fog a mirror

Alive, perhaps barely. (If one holds up a mirror to one's nose or mouth, the breath will cause fog to appear.) I spent the whole day moving furniture, so I'm barely able to fog a mirror now. He'll date any woman who's able to fog a mirror.

See also: able, fog, mirror

able to fog a mirror

Fig. Inf. alive, even if just barely. (Usually jocular. Alludes to the use of a small mirror placed under the nose to tell if a person is breathing or not. (Able to can be replaced with can.) Look, I don't need an athlete to do this job! Anybody able to fog a mirror will do fine!

See also: able, fog, mirror

fog over

[for something made of glass] to become covered over with water vapor. The windshield fogged over because I forgot to turn on the defroster. The mirror fogged over, and I couldn't see to shave.

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fog something up

to make something made of glass become covered with a film of water vapor. The moisture fogged the windshield up, and we had to stop to clean it off. The moisture fogged up the glass.

See also: fog, up

fog up

[for something made of glass] to become partially or completely obscured by a film of water vapor. The glass fogged up, and we couldn't see out.

See also: fog, up

in a fog

 and in a haze

Fig. dazed; not paying attention to what is going on around one; not alert. Jane always seems to be in a fog. When I get up, I'm in a fog for an hour. After surgery, I was in a haze until the anesthetic wore off.

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in a fog

confused or not aware I was in a fog for several days after my son's accident.

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in a fog

Also, in a haze. Preoccupied, not paying attention; also, at a loss, confused. For example, After the accident he went about in a fog, even though he had not been injured, or Millie always seems to be in a haze; she never knows what's going on. These expressions allude to fog or haze obscuring one's view; the fog usage dates from about 1600, haze from about 1800.

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fog in

v.

1. To surround something with fog: The descending mists fogged in the little village. The storm clouds fogged us in on the mountaintop. Because the airport was fogged in, all of the flights were canceled.

2. To cause something to be unable to move safely due to fog. Used chiefly in the passive: The airplane was fogged in and could not land.

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fog up

v.

1. To become covered with condensation: The bathroom mirror fogged up after I took a shower.

2. To cause something to become covered with condensation: The steam from the kettle fogged up the kitchen windows. Don't breathe on the lens—you'll fog it up.

3. To become teary-eyed out of a strong sense of emotion: I fogged up when my parents' photo was unveiled.

See also: fog, up