fore
FOR
/fɔːr/
A warning cry shouted by a golfer to alert people ahead that a ball is flying in their direction.
Shouted loudly and immediately when a shot goes wild. Failing to shout 'fore' is a major breach of golf etiquette.
The story behind the word. The term is believed to be a shortened form of 'forecaddie.' In the 18th and 19th centuries, golfers employed 'forecaddies' to stand far down the fairway and watch where the balls landed. When a player was about to strike, they would yell 'Forecaddie!' to warn them, which was eventually shortened to 'Fore!'
Word relationships
- heads up: Heads up is a general warning, while fore is strictly used in golf.
Commonly confused with
- four: Four is the number 4, while fore is the warning cry.
Collocations
- yell fore
- shout fore
- hear a cry of fore
Example sentences
- "When his drive sliced wildly toward the adjacent fairway, he immediately yelled 'Fore!' at the top of his lungs." An urgent warning on the course.
- "Shouting fore is the most basic safety rule that every beginner must learn." Discussing safety rules.
Memory hook
Think of warning the people 'be-FORE' you hit them with a ball. Yell fore before it hits them.
When not to use
Do not use as a preposition or prefix (like 'forehead' or 'before') when using it as a standalone interjection.
Fun facts
- Failing to yell 'fore' can lead to legal liability if your ball strikes and injures another player.
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