fee-fi-fo-fum
Ogre's menacing incantation
Fee-fi-fo-fum is the opening line of a chant spoken by a giant in the fairy tale "Jack and the Beanstalk," typically followed by threats about smelling and eating an Englishman.
The nonsense syllables have become shorthand for any menacing, booming utterance, often used playfully to suggest something large and threatening approaches.
Fee-fi-fo-fum, I smell something burning in the kitchen.
Being of huge size
- beanstalkLegume plant's stem
- JackMale court card
- EnglishmanMale UK citizen
- castleFortified medieval residence
Meaningless words or actions
- chantRepetitive rhythmic phrase
- incantationSpoken magical formula
- singsongRhythmically monotonous speech
- refrainAbstain from acting
verse · rhythm · cadence · repetition · alliteration · nursery · children · recitation
Low threatening sound
- roarLoud, deep animal cry
- threatIndication of potential harm
- boomingExperiencing rapid growth
- thunderousExtremely loud, resounding
intimidation · warning · chase · devour · hungry · fearsome · monstrous · villain
Work meant to amuse
- spoofComic exaggerated imitation
- HalloweenOctober 31st festival
- costumeClothing for portrayal
- impressionEffect on the mind
booming · voice · exaggeration · cartoon · Shrek · pantomime · theater · caricature
giant
Being of huge size
- beanstalkLegume plant's stem
- JackMale court card
- EnglishmanMale UK citizen
castle · golden · harp · goose · eggs · ogre · bones · grind · bread · smell
nonsense
Meaningless words or actions
- chantRepetitive rhythmic phrase
- incantationSpoken magical formula
- singsongRhythmically monotonous speech
refrain · verse · rhythm · cadence · repetition · alliteration · nursery · children · recitation · memorization
growl
Low threatening sound
thunderous · intimidation · warning · chase · devour · hungry · fearsome · monstrous · villain · predator
comedy
Work meant to amuse
impression · booming · voice · exaggeration · cartoon · Shrek · pantomime · theater · caricature · mockery
- Jack and the BeanstalkJack, giant, beanstalk, magic beans, golden eggs
- giant's lairbeanstalk, harp, castle, treasure, golden eggs
fee-fi-fo-fumplain English
Unadorned, accessible wording
formal declaration · legal language · scientific terminology · prose · dictionary definition
fee-fi-fo-fumwelcome home
Greeting for one returning
once upon a time · happily ever after · there there · lullaby · sweet dreams