{"id":5838,"date":"2022-09-06T03:27:13","date_gmt":"2022-09-06T03:27:13","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/english-grammar-lessons.com\/?p=5838"},"modified":"2022-09-06T03:27:13","modified_gmt":"2022-09-06T03:27:13","slug":"feen-meaning","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/english-grammar-lessons.com\/feen-meaning\/","title":{"rendered":"Feen \u2013 Meaning, Origin and Usage"},"content":{"rendered":"

Are you craving something? You could say you\u2019re a \u2018feen<\/em><\/strong>\u2019 for a person, a candy bar, a cup of coffee, or a drug. This post unpacks the meaning and origin of this expression.<\/p>\n

Meaning<\/h2>\n

The expression \u2018feen<\/em>\u2019 means \u2018man<\/em>\u2019 or \u2018traveling man\u2019<\/em> in Gaelic, the native language of Ireland. The term found its way into slang in Irish in the southwestern regions of the country, in Cork and county. However, this word doesn\u2019t have any use outside of Irish-speaking people.<\/p>\n

The more common meaning of \u2018feen<\/em>\u2019 is to refer to a craving or \u2018fiending<\/em>\u2019 for something like a drug or fast food. It describes a feeling or compulsion in which your mind can\u2019t focus on anything but the object of your desire.<\/p>\n

You can use \u2018feen<\/em>\u2019 or \u2018feening<\/em>\u2019 when you\u2019re craving another person\u2019s company, when you need a drug or any other stimulus you crave. The phrase doesn\u2019t always refer to drug use, but it\u2019s the most common use of the expression. If someone tells you they\u2019re \u2018feening<\/em>\u2019 for something, it\u2019s usually an illicit substance.<\/p>\n

Example Usage<\/h2>\n

\u201cMan, I\u2019m a feen for a good burger at In-and-Out. Let\u2019s head to the drive-thru for lunch. I\u2019m starving right now.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m such a candy feen. I have a real sweet tooth, and it\u2019s a problem. I\u2019m picking up too much weight, and I need to see the dentist for a few fillings from all the sugar consumption.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cLook at that feen over there. You can tell he\u2019s a traveling man. I wonder how he likes the beautiful scenery around Cork?\u201d<\/p>\n

\"\" \"\"<\/p>\n

Origin<\/h2>\n

The expression \u2018feen\u2019 originates in the Irish language, \u2018Gaelic.\u2019 Native Gaelic speakers use the phrase to describe a traveling man, but there is no record of when the term first appears in print. While \u2018feen\u2019 is a proper Irish word, it\u2019s also a colloquialism in English, meaning \u2018fiend.\u2019<\/p>\n

The \u2018fiending\u2019 definition of the word is the more commonly used version in modern language. The first appearance of the word in the Urban dictionary was in 2007. However, there is no information on who coined the term.<\/p>\n

Most experts believe the \u2018fiending\u2019 version of \u2018feen\u2019 comes from cannabis culture. Users would say they were \u2018fiending\u2019 or acting like a \u2018feen\u2019 when craving the drug.<\/p>\n