|
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." |
| 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.
"I wanted to enter the competition but at the
last minute I got cold feet." |
Get one's
feet wet
|
If you get your feet wet (or dip your toes
in the water), you
start to do something new or unfamiliar or
explore new territory
for the first time.
"It will be a totally new experience for me but
I can't wait to get
my feet wet!" |
|
Have the world at
your feet |
If you have the
world at your feet, you are extremely successful
and greatly admired.
"The talented young actress has the world at her
feet." |
| Feet of
clay |
If someone who is admired is found to
have a hidden weakness,
fault or defect of character, they are said to
have feet of clay.
"No one is perfect. Many successful people have
feet of clay." |
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
finds it difficult to stay
in one place and likes travelling and
discovering new places.
"Scott never stays long anywhere. He's got itchy
feet! " |
| 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!" |
Pull the rug from under someone's
feet |
If you
pull the rug from under someone's feet, you suddenly
and
unexpectedly remove all help or support.
"When Andy's mother stopped sending him money,
she pulled the
rug from under his feet and forced him to find a
job." |
| Put your feet
up |
When you put your
feet up, you sit down and relax.
"You must be
tired. Come in and put your feet
up." |
| 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." |
|
My foot! |
This expression is used to show that you do not believe
something
that has just been said.
"He said he had a summer home? My foot! I doubt
if he owns a tent!" |
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 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!" |
| Put one's
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 |
| The shoe
is on the other foot |
When the circumstances have reversed and
one person now doing
what the the other person did in the past, you
can say that the shoe
is on the other foot.
"I used to advise my children to eat healthy
food. Now my daughter
is a nutritionist and the shoe is on the other
foot - she advises me!" |
| 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
|
| Bring someone to
heel |
If you force someone to behave in a
disciplined manner, you bring
them to heel.
"He
had always behaved badly, but the new headmaster managed
to bring him to heel." |
| 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
|
Dip one's toes in the
water |
If you dip your toes in the water (or
get your feet wet), you
start to do something new or unfamiliar or
explore new territory
for the first time.
"It will be a totally new experience for me but
I can't wait to get
my feet wet!" |
| Keep someone on their
toes |
If
you keep someone on their toes, you make them stay alert
and
ready for action at any time. |
| Step/tread on someone's toes |
If you annoy
or irritate somebody by intervening in a situation that
is their responsibility, you step on their
toes.
"I could offer some advice but I'm afraid of
stepping on someone's toes." |
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