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What does "foot" mean?
In addition to the idioms beginning with foot, also see bound hand and foot; caught flat-footed; get off on the wrong foot; not touch with a ten-foot pole; one foot in the grave; on foot; on the right foot; play footsie; put one's best foot forward; put one's foot down; put one's foot in it; set foot; shoe is on the other foot; shoot oneself in the foot; wait on hand and foot. Also see under feet.
See foot in WNW Idioms
foot it
Informal to dance, walk, or run
of foot
in walking or running swift of foot
on foot
- walking or running
- going on; in process
on the wrong foot
in an inept or unfavorable way at the very beginning
put one's best foot forward
Informal- to do the best that one can
- to try to appear at one's best
put one's foot down
Informal to be firm; act decisively
put one's foot in it
or put one's foot in in one's mouthInformal to make an embarrassing or troublesome blunder
under foot
- on the surface of the ground; on the floor, etc.
- in the way
See foot in American Heritage Dictionary 4 Idioms
at (someone's) feet
Enchanted or fascinated by another.
best foot forward
A favorable initial impression: He always has his best foot forward when speaking to his constituents. Put your best foot forward during an employment interview.
feet of clay
An underlying weakness or fault: “They discovered to their vast discomfiture that their idol had feet of clay, after placing him upon a pedestal” (James Joyce).
foot in the door
- Slang
- An initial point of or opportunity for entry.
- A first step in working toward a goal.
get (one's) feet wet
To start a new activity or job.
have one foot in the grave
Informal
To be on the verge of death, as from illness or severe trauma.
have (one's) feet on the ground
To be sensible and practical about one's situation.
on (one's) feet
- Standing up: The crowd was on its feet for the last ten seconds.
- Fully recovered, as after an illness or convalescence: The patient is on her feet again.
- In a sound or stable operating condition: put the business back on its feet after years of mismanagement.
- In an impromptu situation; extemporaneously: “Politicians provide easy targets for grammatical nitpickers because they have to think on their feet” (Springfield MA Morning Union).
on the right foot
In an auspicious manner: The project started off on the right foot but soon ran into difficulties.
on the wrong foot
In an inauspicious manner: The project started off on the wrong foot.
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