hit the fan

H h

Definitions of hit the fan words

noun hit the fan any device for producing a current of air by the movement of a broad surface or a number of such surfaces. 1
noun hit the fan an implement of feathers, leaves, paper, cloth, etc., often in the shape of a long triangle or of a semicircle, for waving lightly in the hand to create a cooling current of air about a person: We sat on the veranda, cooling ourselves with palm-leaf fans. 1
noun hit the fan anything resembling such an implement, as the tail of a bird. 1
noun hit the fan any of various devices consisting essentially of a series of radiating vanes or blades attached to and revolving with a central hublike portion to produce a current of air: ceiling fan; wall fan. 1
noun hit the fan a series of revolving blades supplying air for winnowing or cleaning grain. 1
noun hit the fan Horology. fly1 (def 28). 1

before 900

One of the 4% oldest English words

before 900; Middle English, Old English fann < Latin vannus winnowing basket

noun

adjective

verb

adverb

pronoun

preposition

conjunction

determiner

exclamation

A common word. It’s meaning is known to most children of preschool age. About 97% of English native speakers know the meaning and use the word.

Most Europeans know this English word. The frequency of it’s usage is somewhere between "mom" and "screwdriver".

This diagram is provided by Google Ngram Viewer