feel for
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Grope, reach for with one's hands, as in It was pitch dark, and I felt for the doorknob. [Early 1700s]
feel for someone. Sympathize with or feel sorry for someone, as in Tom was so upset that I felt for him. This usage was put as feel with by Shakespeare: “It resounds as if it felt with Scotland” (Macbeth, 4:3). Both senses of feel for are present in the somewhat sarcastic I feel for you but I can't quite reach you, meaning “Too bad, but I don't really feel sorry for you.”
QUIZ
GOOSES. GEESES. I WANT THIS QUIZ ON PLURAL NOUNS!
Test how much you really know about regular and irregular plural nouns with this quiz.
Question 1 of 9
Which of the following nouns has an irregular plural form?
Words nearby feel for
feel, feel-bad, feel blue, feeler, feeler gauge, feel for, feel free, feel-good, feeling, feelings, feel in one's bones
The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary
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