1foot 
/ˈfʊt/ noun
plural feet /ˈfʊt/ noun /ˈfi:t/ 1 [count] : the part of the leg on which an animal or person stands and moves : the part of the leg below the ankle
▪ He was wearing boots on his feet. ▪ tracks made by the feet of a bird ▪ standing on one foot ▪ The people in the crowd began to stamp their feet. ▪ She was walking around the house in (her) bare feet. [=she was not wearing any shoes or socks] ▪ She was in her stockinged/stocking feet. [=she was wearing socks but no shoes] ▪ It's a long hike, but we'll get there if we just keep putting one foot in front of the other. [=if we just keep walking] ▪ Wipe your feet [=rub the bottoms of your shoes on the doormat] when you come in. — often used before another noun ▪ a foot pump [=a pump that is operated by being pressed with the foot] ▪ a foot brake ▪ an area that gets a lot of foot traffic [=an area where many people walk] — see also athlete's foot, clubfoot, cold feet, flat foot 2 plural also foot [count] : a unit of measurement equal to 1⁄3 yard (0.3048 meter) or 12 inches
▪ a 10-foot pole = a pole 10 feet long ▪ He's six feet tall. ▪ He's six feet, three inches tall. = He's six foot three. ▪ a plant that grows three feet tall = a three-foot-tall plant 3 [singular] a : the lowest part of something : bottom
▪ They camped at the foot of the mountain. ▪ at the foot of the stairs
b : the end of something that is opposite to the end that is called the head
▪ the foot of the bed [=the end where your feet are when you are lying on the bed] ▪ the foot of the table 4 [count] : a basic unit of rhythm in a line of poetry made up of a group of syllables that are accented in a certain way
▪ Each line of the poem has five feet.
▪ He was wearing boots on his feet. ▪ tracks made by the feet of a bird ▪ standing on one foot ▪ The people in the crowd began to stamp their feet. ▪ She was walking around the house in (her) bare feet. [=she was not wearing any shoes or socks] ▪ She was in her stockinged/stocking feet. [=she was wearing socks but no shoes] ▪ It's a long hike, but we'll get there if we just keep putting one foot in front of the other. [=if we just keep walking] ▪ Wipe your feet [=rub the bottoms of your shoes on the doormat] when you come in. — often used before another noun ▪ a foot pump [=a pump that is operated by being pressed with the foot] ▪ a foot brake ▪ an area that gets a lot of foot traffic [=an area where many people walk] — see also athlete's foot, clubfoot, cold feet, flat foot
▪ a 10-foot pole = a pole 10 feet long ▪ He's six feet tall. ▪ He's six feet, three inches tall. = He's six foot three. ▪ a plant that grows three feet tall = a three-foot-tall plant
▪ They camped at the foot of the mountain. ▪ at the foot of the stairs
b : the end of something that is opposite to the end that is called the head
▪ the foot of the bed [=the end where your feet are when you are lying on the bed] ▪ the foot of the table
▪ Each line of the poem has five feet.
at someone's feet
: close to someone's feet
▪ His dog was lying at his feet. — sometimes used figuratively ▪ He was young and fearless, and he felt the world was at his feet. [=felt that he could do great things in the world] ▪ She claimed that men fell at her feet. [=that men often fell in love with her]
▪ His dog was lying at his feet. — sometimes used figuratively ▪ He was young and fearless, and he felt the world was at his feet. [=felt that he could do great things in the world] ▪ She claimed that men fell at her feet. [=that men often fell in love with her]
be run/rushed off your feet
Brit : to be very busy
▪ We are run off our feet trying to fill orders.
▪ We are run off our feet trying to fill orders.
drag your feet — see 1drag
feet of clay
◊A person who was admired in the past but who has serious faults or flaws can be described as having feet of clay.
▪ a former political leader who turned out to have feet of clay
▪ a former political leader who turned out to have feet of clay
find your feet
: to start to be comfortable in a new situation : to begin to be confident or successful
▪ They quickly found their feet in their adopted country. ▪ I was away for a long time, so it will take me a while to find my feet again.
▪ They quickly found their feet in their adopted country. ▪ I was away for a long time, so it will take me a while to find my feet again.
get/start off on the right foot
: to begin a relationship well
▪ I want to get off on the right foot with your parents.
▪ I want to get off on the right foot with your parents.
get/start off on the wrong foot
: to begin a relationship badly
▪ They got off on the wrong foot when they first met and they've disliked each other ever since.
▪ They got off on the wrong foot when they first met and they've disliked each other ever since.
get your feet wet — see 1wet
get your foot in the door
: to make the first step toward a goal by gaining entry into an organization, a career, etc.
▪ He took a job as a secretary to get his foot in the door.
▪ He took a job as a secretary to get his foot in the door.
hand and foot — see 1hand
have one foot in the grave
: to be close to dying because of old age or illness
have/keep your feet on the ground
: to be a sensible and practical person
▪ Even after she became famous, she always kept her feet on the ground.
▪ Even after she became famous, she always kept her feet on the ground.
let the grass grow under your feet — see 1grass
light on your feet — see 4light
my foot
informal + somewhat old-fashioned — used to express surprise or disagreement ▪ Fair, my foot! That contest wasn't fair!
off your feet
: not in a standing position : in or into a sitting or lying position
▪ The blow knocked me off my feet. ▪ The doctor suggested that he stay off his feet [=that he avoid standing and walking] as much as possible.
▪ The blow knocked me off my feet. ▪ The doctor suggested that he stay off his feet [=that he avoid standing and walking] as much as possible.
on foot
: by walking
▪ The refugees traveled on foot.
▪ The refugees traveled on foot.
on your feet 1 : in a standing position
▪ I've been on my feet all day. ▪ He jumped over the wall and landed on his feet. ▪ They say that no matter how a cat falls, it always manages to land on its feet. ▪ By the end of the day the workers were dead on their feet. [=very tired but still standing, working, etc.] ◊In figurative use, to land on your feet or Brit fall on your feet is to be lucky and be in good condition or in a good situation after having a bad or difficult experience.
▪ He lost his job but landed on his feet when he was hired by another company just a few days later. 2 : in a good position or condition
▪ The business is finally/back on its feet. 3 : in a healthy condition after an illness or injury
▪ She should be out of the hospital and (back) on her feet again in a couple of weeks. 4 : quickly and while actively doing something
▪ Good debaters can think on their feet.
▪ I've been on my feet all day. ▪ He jumped over the wall and landed on his feet. ▪ They say that no matter how a cat falls, it always manages to land on its feet. ▪ By the end of the day the workers were dead on their feet. [=very tired but still standing, working, etc.] ◊In figurative use, to land on your feet or Brit fall on your feet is to be lucky and be in good condition or in a good situation after having a bad or difficult experience.
▪ He lost his job but landed on his feet when he was hired by another company just a few days later.
▪ The business is finally/back on its feet.
▪ She should be out of the hospital and (back) on her feet again in a couple of weeks.
▪ Good debaters can think on their feet.
put a foot wrong
: to make a mistake
▪ He never put a foot wrong during the campaign.
▪ He never put a foot wrong during the campaign.
put your best foot forward 1 US : to behave very well so that someone will like you and approve of you
▪ When I visited my girlfriend's parents I tried to be very polite and put my best foot forward. 2 Brit : to try as hard as possible to do something difficult
▪ I've got to put my best foot forward [=do my best] to meet this deadline.
▪ When I visited my girlfriend's parents I tried to be very polite and put my best foot forward.
▪ I've got to put my best foot forward [=do my best] to meet this deadline.
put your feet up
informal : to sit and relax : to not work or be active
▪ I'm going to go home and put my feet up.
▪ I'm going to go home and put my feet up.
put your foot down 1 : to deal with someone in a harsh or strict way
▪ When my son broke his curfew for the third time, I knew it was time to put my foot down. 2 Brit : to make a car go faster
▪ When my son broke his curfew for the third time, I knew it was time to put my foot down.
put your foot in your mouth (chiefly US) or put your foot in it
informal : to say something that causes someone to be embarrassed, upset, or hurt especially when you did not expect that reaction
▪ I really put my foot in it when I asked her about her job. I didn't know she'd just been fired.
▪ I really put my foot in it when I asked her about her job. I didn't know she'd just been fired.
set foot in
: to enter (a place)
▪ That was the last time she ever set foot in this house.
▪ That was the last time she ever set foot in this house.
set foot on
: to walk on (something)
▪ Neil Armstrong was the first man to set foot on the surface of the moon.
▪ Neil Armstrong was the first man to set foot on the surface of the moon.
shoot yourself in the foot — see 1shoot
stand on your own two feet
: to support yourself without help from other people
▪ You can't live with your parents forever. It's time to get a place of your own and learn to stand on your own two feet.
▪ You can't live with your parents forever. It's time to get a place of your own and learn to stand on your own two feet.
sweep (someone) off his/her feet — see 1sweep
the shoe is on the other foot or Brit the boot is on the other foot
— used to say that a situation has changed to the opposite of what it was before ▪ I used to boss my little sister around. Now the shoe is on the other foot. [=now she bosses me around] ▪ The shoe is on the other foot and he is the one asking for help this time.
to your feet
: to a standing position
▪ I got/rose to my feet [=I stood up] and left. ▪ His inspirational speech brought the crowd to its feet. ▪ Everyone in the courtroom came to their feet when the judge entered.
▪ I got/rose to my feet [=I stood up] and left. ▪ His inspirational speech brought the crowd to its feet. ▪ Everyone in the courtroom came to their feet when the judge entered.
two left feet
◊A person who dances badly can be described as having two left feet.
▪ My wife is a good dancer, but I've got two left feet.
▪ My wife is a good dancer, but I've got two left feet.
under your feet
vote with your feet — see 1vote
