fix

[fiks] /fɪks/
verb (used with object), fixed or fixt, fixing.
1.
to repair; mend.
2.
to put in order or in good condition; adjust or arrrange:
She fixed her hair in a bun.
3.
to make fast, firm, or stable.
4.
to place definitely and more or less permanently:
to fix a circus poster to a wall.
5.
to settle definitely; determine:
to fix a price.
6.
to direct (the eyes, the attention, etc.) steadily:
His eyes were fixed on the distant ship.
7.
to attract and hold (the eye, the attention, etc.).
8.
to make set or rigid.
9.
to put into permanent form.
10.
to put or place (responsibility, blame, etc.) on a person.
11.
to assign or refer to a definite place, time, etc.
12.
to provide or supply with (something needed or wanted):
How are you fixed for money?
13.
Informal. to arrange or influence the outcome or action of, especially privately or dishonestly:
to fix a jury; to fix a game.
14.
to get (a meal); prepare (food):
What time shall I fix supper?
15.
Informal. to put in a condition or position to make no further trouble.
16.
Informal. to get even with; get revenge upon:
I'll fix him!
17.
Informal. to castrate or spay (an animal, especially a pet).
18.
Chemistry.
  1. to make stable in consistency or condition; reduce from fluidity or volatility to a more stable state.
  2. to convert atmospheric nitrogen into a useful compound, as a nitrate fertilizer.
19.
Photography. to render (an image) permanent by removing light-sensitive silver halides.
20.
Microscopy. to kill, make rigid, and preserve for microscopic study.
verb (used without object), fixed or fixt, fixing.
21.
to become fixed.
22.
to become set; assume a rigid or solid form.
23.
to become stable or permanent.
24.
to settle down.
25.
Slang. to inject oneself with a narcotic.
26.
Chiefly Southern U.S. to prepare; plan (usually followed by an infinitive):
I was just fixing to call you. We're fixing to go to Colorado this summer.
noun
27.
Informal. a position from which it is difficult to escape; predicament.
28.
Informal. a repair, adjustment, or solution, usually of an immediate nature:
Can you think of a fix for the problem?
29.
Navigation.
  1. a charted position of a vessel or aircraft, determined by two or more bearings taken on landmarks, heavenly bod-ies, etc.
  2. the determining of the position of a ship, plane, etc., by mathematical, electronic, or other means:
    The navigator took a fix on the sun and steered the ship due north.
30.
a clear determination:
Can you get a fix on what he really means?
31.
Slang.
  1. an injection of heroin or other narcotic.
  2. the narcotic or amount of narcotic injected.
  3. a compulsively sought dose or infusion of something:
    to need one's daily fix of soap operas on TV.
32.
Slang.
  1. an underhand or illegal arrangement, especially one secured through bribery or influence.
  2. a contest, situation, etc., whose outcome is prearranged dishonestly.
Verb phrases
33.
fix on/upon, to decide on; determine:
We won't be able to fix on a location for the banquet until we know the number of guests.
34.
fix up, Informal.
  1. to arrange for:
    to fix up a date.
  2. to provide with; furnish.
  3. to repair; renew.
  4. to smooth over; solve:
    They weren't able to fix up their differences.
Idioms
35.
fix one's wagon, Informal. to exact retribution for an offense; treat someone vengefully:
I'll dock his pay and that will fix his wagon.
36.
in a fix, Older Slang. pregnant.
Origin
1350-1400; 1900-05 for def 29; 1935-40 for def 31; Middle English fixen (v.) < Medieval Latin fixāre, derivative of Latin fixus fixed, past participle of fīgere to fasten
Related forms
fixable, adjective
fixability, noun
overfix, verb
refix, verb (used with object), refixed, refixing.
unfixable, adjective
Synonyms
1. correct, amend. 3, 4. fasten, secure, stabilize. Fix, establish imply making firm or permanent. To fix is to fasten in position securely or to make more or less permanent against change, especially something already existing: to fix a bayonet on a gun; fix a principle in one's mind. To establish is to make firm or permanent something (usually newly) originated, created, or ordained: to establish a business, a claim to property. 5. establish, define. 27. dilemma, plight, quandary.
Usage note
Fix meaning “to repair” appears to have been used first in America, but it is long established and has been used in England since the early 19th century: The engineer quickly fixed the faulty valve. The verb use is fully standard in all varieties of speech and writing, and objections to it on the grounds of style merely reflect personal prejudice, not the practice of educated speakers and writers. The noun fix meaning “repair, adjustment” is informal.
Fix (to) meaning “to prepare, plan (to)” is another Americanism: We're fixing to go to town. It once occurred in all the eastern coastal states, but it is now chiefly an informal spoken form in the South Midland and South.
British Dictionary definitions for in a fix

fix

/fɪks/
verb (mainly transitive)
1.
(also intransitive) to make or become firm, stable, or secure
2.
to attach or place permanently: fix the mirror to the wall
3.
(often foll by up) to settle definitely; decide: let us fix a date
4.
to hold or direct (eyes, attention, etc) steadily: he fixed his gaze on the woman
5.
to call to attention or rivet
6.
to make rigid: to fix one's jaw
7.
to place or ascribe: to fix the blame on someone
8.
to mend or repair
9.
(informal) to provide with: how are you fixed for supplies?
10.
(informal) to influence (a person, outcome of a contest, etc) unfairly, as by bribery
11.
(slang) to take revenge on; get even with, esp by killing
12.
(informal) to give (someone) his just deserts: that'll fix him
13.
(informal) to arrange or put in order: to fix one's hair
14.
(informal) to prepare: to fix a meal
15.
(dialect or informal) to spay or castrate (an animal)
16.
(US, dialect or informal) to prepare oneself: I'm fixing to go out
17.
(photog) to treat (a film, plate, or paper) with fixer to make permanent the image rendered visible by developer
18.
(cytology) to kill, preserve, and harden (tissue, cells, etc) for subsequent microscopic study
19.
  1. to convert (atmospheric nitrogen) into nitrogen compounds, as in the manufacture of fertilizers or the action of bacteria in the soil
  2. to convert (carbon dioxide) into organic compounds, esp carbohydrates, as occurs in photosynthesis in plants and some microorganisms
20.
to reduce (a substance) to a solid or condensed state or a less volatile state
21.
(intransitive) (slang) to inject a drug
noun
22.
(informal) a predicament; dilemma
23.
the ascertaining of the navigational position, as of a ship, by radar, observation, etc
24.
(slang) an intravenous injection of a drug, esp heroin
25.
(informal) an act or instance of bribery
See also fix up
Derived Forms
fixable, adjective
Word Origin
C15: from Medieval Latin fixāre, from Latin fixus fixed, from Latin fīgere
Word Origin and History for in a fix

fix

v.

late 14c., "set (one's eyes or mind) on something," probably from Old French *fixer, from fixe "fixed," from Latin fixus "fixed, fast, immovable, established, settled," past participle of figere "to fix, fasten," from PIE root *dhigw- "to stick, to fix."

Sense of "fasten, attach" is c.1400; that of "settle, assign" is pre-1500 and evolved into "adjust, arrange" (1660s), then "repair" (1737). Sense of "tamper with" (a fight, a jury, etc.) is 1790. As euphemism for "castrate a pet" it dates from 1930. Related: Fixed; fixedly (1590s); fixing.

n.

"position from which it is difficult to move," 1809, American English, from fix (v.). Meaning "dose of narcotic" is from 1934, shortened from fix-up (1867, originally in reference to liquor).

in a fix in Science
fix
(fĭks)

  1. To convert inorganic carbon or nitrogen into stable, organic compounds that can be assimilated into organisms. Photosynthetic organisms such as green plants fix carbon in carbohydrates as food; certain bacteria fix nitrogen as ammonia that can be absorbed directly or through nitrification by plant roots. See more at carbon fixation, nitrogen fixation.

  2. To convert a substance, especially a gas, into solid or liquid form by chemical reactions.

  3. To kill and preserve a tissue specimen rapidly to retain as nearly as possible the characteristics it had in the living body.


Slang definitions & phrases for in a fix

in a fix

adverb phrase

Indifficulty;in atightspot: under a cloud, up a tree, quisby, done up, sold up, in a fix (1837+)


fix

noun
  1. A fight, game, etc, of which the winner has been fraudulently predetermined: The World Series that year was a blatant fix (1890s+)
  2. (also fix-up) A dose of a narcotic, esp an injection of heroin; blast: afixto calm her jittery nerves (1930s+ Narcotics)
  3. Anything needed to appease a habitual need or craving •One of the common transfers of narcotics terms, like junkie: He had to have his daily fix of flattery (1970s+)
  4. A difficult situation; a nasty position or dilemma: I'm afraid her lying has gotten her into quite a fix (1809+)
  5. A clear idea; an accurate notion •The dated use refers to the determination of a point or line in navigation: I can't get a fix on this guy's intentions (1902+)
verb
  1. To prearrange the outcome of a prizefight, race, game, etc (1790+)
  2. To arrange exoneration from a charge, esp by bribery; have a charge quashed: He had a pal could fix tickets for five bucks (1872+)
  3. To castrate an animal, esp a cat (1940s+)
  4. To punish; injure; FIX someone's WAGON: Make him wash the dishes, that'll fix him (1800+)
Related Terms

quick fix


Related Abbreviations for in a fix

FIX

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Idioms and Phrases with in a fix

in a fix

Also,
in a pickle or spot
. In a difficult or embarrassing situation, in a dilemma. For example,
I was really in a fix when I missed the plane
, or
Lost and out of gas—how did we get in such a pickle?
or
John had lost all his money in the crap game—now he was in a spot
. The first of these colloquial usages dates from the early 1800s;
pickle
in the sense of a mess or quandary, sometimes put as
in a pretty pickle
, dates from the 1500s;
spot
, also put as
in a bad spot or tough spot
, dates from the early 1900s. Also see
, def. 2;

fix

also see: