|
Idiom |
Meaning |
Cut the ground from
under
somebody's feet |
When someone cuts the ground from under another's feet, they do
something which weakens their position or spoils their plans.
"When we launched the new product, we cut the ground from under our
competitors' feet." |
|
Drag your feet |
If you drag your feet, you delay a decision or participate without any
real enthusiasm.
"The government is dragging its feet on
measures to reduce pollution." |
|
To get cold feet |
If you get cold feet about
something, you begin to hesitate about
doing it; you are no longer sure whether you want to do it or not. |
|
To keep one's feet on the ground |
A person who keeps their feet on the ground
continues to act
in a sensible and practical way, even if they become successful. |
|
To have itchy feet |
A person who has itchy feet is someone
who wants to move
somewhere new or do something different. |
|
To drag one's feet |
If you say that a person is dragging their
feet, you think they are
unnecessarily delaying a decision which is important to you. |
|
To find your feet |
To say that someone in a new situation is
finding their feet means
that they are learning what to do and gaining self-confidence. |
| Land on your feet |
If you land on
your feet, you make a quick recovery after a difficulty
such as a business failure, an illness, a loss, etc.
"Don't worry about Bob. He always lands on his feet!" |
|
Rushed off your feet. |
If your are rushed off your feet, your are extremely busy.
"I'd love to have lunch with you but we're rushed off our feet at the
moment
at the office." |
|
Stand on your own two feet |
If you
stand on your own two feet, you are independent and need
no help from anyone.
"When young people leave home, they learn to stand on their own two
feet." |
|
Think on one's
feet |
A
person who thinks on their feet is capable of making good decisions
without previous thinking or planning.
Good lawyers need to be able to think on their feet when pleading
a case. |
|
Two left
feet |
If you have two left feet, you are clumsy or awkward in your
movements. |
|
A foot in the door |
If you say that someone has a foot in the
door, you mean that they have
a small but successful start in something and will possibly do well in the future.
"With today's unemployment, it's difficult to get a foot in the door in any
profession." |
|
Put
one's
foot in one's mouth |
If
you put your foot in your mouth, you do or say something that
offends,
upsets or embarrasses someone else.
"She really put her foot in her mouth when she mentioned the housewarming
party - Andy hadn't been invited!" |
Get (or start) off on the right/wrong
foot |
This expression means to start a
relationship well or badly.
"I was looking forward to working with Julie but we seem to have
started off on the wrong foot." |
|
Put our best foot forward |
If
someone puts their best foot forward, they do something as fast as
they can.
"It's a long way to the station, but if I put my best foot forward I should
catch
the next train." |
|
To put one's foot down |
To put one's foot down means to exert
authority to prevent
something from happening |
|
Shoot
yourself in the
foot |
If you shoot yourself in the foot,
you do or say something which is
against your own interests.
"When Julie was asked at the interview if she had any weaknesses,
she really shot herself in the foot the way she answered." |
|
Heels |
| Cool one`s heels |
If you are left to cool your heels, someone keeps you waiting.
"After rushing to be on
time for my appointment, I was left to cool my heels
in the waiting room for an hour." |
|
Dig in your heels |
If you dig in your heels, you
refuse to do something, especially if someone
is trying to convince you to do so.
"My grandfather dug in his heels and refused to move to an
apartment." |
|
Toes |
|
Keep someone on their toes |
If you keep someone on their toes, you
make them stay alert and
ready for action at any time. |