Learn English – When do you use this expression ‘I am not a fan of ‘

expressionsword-usage

I understand the meaning when it is said like

'I am not a fan of Indian food or horror movies'

Here, you are a fan of things like movies, food etc.

but I do not understand why it is correct to say

'I am not a fan of negativity'.

'negativity' is not a tangible thing. Can we use 'fan' this way?

Best Answer

Colloquially, you can be a fan (or not a fan) of anything, abstract or concrete, tangible or intangible.

When it's used colloquially, be a fan of implies "like".

I'm a fan of Tom Cruise. ~ The speaker is a fan of the actor. They surely like the actor.
I'm not a fan of spicy food. ~ The speaker doesn't like spicy food much.


Here is a good example showing that the expression "a fan of" can be used with virtually anything. It's from the movie Edge of Tomorrow (the quote is from www.moviequotesandmore.com):

[as they drive along the main road in France]
Cage: You don’t talk much.
Rita: Not a fan.
Cage: Of talking?
Rita: Not a fan of talking, no.

It just means that Rita doesn't want to talk (with Cage) in that scene.


So, your I am not a fan of negativity simply means: I don't like negativity.